HALF  MARRIED 

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•ANNIE-BLISS-MCCONNELL 


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HALF    MARRIED. 


AGAME    GAME. 


BY 

ANNIE   BLISS   McCONNELL. 


Pet.  Unde  nobis,  Gabriel,  tarn  tetrica  fronte? 
Gab.  Imo  a  nuptiis  1 

ERASMUS,  Col. 

"Always  there  is  a  black  spot  in  our  sunshine;  it  is  even  the  shadow  of 
ourselves . ' ' — CARLVLE. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

J.    B.   LIPPINCOTT   COMPANY. 
1887. 


Copyright,  1886,  by  J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY. 


HALF     MARRIED. 

AGAME  GAME. 


CHAPTER    I. 

GENERAL  LANSING  was  a  "  West  Pointer"  of  the 
old  school.  Tall,  straight,  rigidly  genial,  he 
never  omitted  a  military  duty,  never  shirked  a 
social  obligation,  and  never,  where  health  and 
civilization  permitted,  failed  to  attend  service 
once  on  Sunday. 

Having  been  born  and  bred  among  soldiers,  his 
whole  life  was  made  up  of  what  he  considered 
duties;  and  from  the  time  he  was  a  cadet  he  would 
as  soon  have  slept  on  watch  as  have  left  unreturned 
a  "  first  call"  longer  than  the  conventional  three 
days. 

He  was  as  careful  about  small  duties  as  great 
ones,  and,  of  course,  this  trait  in  his  character 
made  him  a  strict  disciplinarian.  But  being  as 

3 


4  HALF  MARRIED. 

severe  with  himself  as  with  those  under  him,  and 
having  too  much  soldierly  self-control  to  ever  lose 
command  of  himself,  he  was  in  no  sense  of  the 
word  a  martinet.  Still,  he  certainly  was  not  only  a 
terror  to  evil-doers,  but  to  those  who  did  what  they 
ought  to  do  in  a  careless  or  inefficient  manner. 
His  wife,  whom  he  loved  with  little  demonstration 
but  very  dearly,  was  from  a  border  State.  She 
died  from  care  and  anxiety,  caused  by  the  unhappy 
political  divisions  in  her  own  family,  during  the 
first  year  of  the  late  war,  leaving  one  daughter, 
Bessie,  eleven  years  old. 

The  general — not  a  general  then — submitted 
calmly  to  the  cruel  blow  as  coming  from  the 
"  Great  Headquarters,"  and  bowed  his  head  quietly 
and  resignedly  to  the  inevitable  orders  of  Prov- 
idence. 

* 

After  this  his  one  great  hope  in  life  was,  after 
the  war,  to  get  back  to  his  little  daughter.  All 
his  thoughts,  his  very  existence  was  now  centred 
in  her ;  his  one  dream  was  her  companionship  and 
her  improvement. 

After  her  mother's  death  Bessie  was  sent  off 
hurriedly  to  boarding-school,  and  was  desolate 
enough,  poor  child.  For  three  years  she  never 


HALF  MARRIED. 


5 


saw  her  father,  but  with  aching  heart  and  burning 
brain  she  followed  the  movements  of  the  army. 

Thus  made  old  for  her  years,  she  was  at  fourteen 
a  woman  grown.  Taller  than  the  companions  of 
her  own  age,  ahead  of  them  in  their  classes,  and 
inheriting  to  some  extent  the  self-control  of  two 
generations  of  soldiers,  she  found  herself  in  some 
ways  different  from  her  classmates  and  rather 
alone.  The  scholars  looked  up  to  her  with  that 
mysterious  awe  with  which  young  girls,  even 
very  little  girls,  regard  the  "  motherless  ones,"  as 
something  unnatural,  something  to  be  respect- 
fully regarded  and  respectfully  pitied.  Yes,  they 
pitied  her,  though  she  stood  high  in  her  classes, 
had  a  general  for  a  papa,  and  had  more  spending 
money  than  even  the  "  older  girls." 

The  infrequency  of  her  letters  struck  them  as 
a  great  misfortune.  They  would  read  in  groups 
their  delicately-written  and  frequent  missives  from 
"  mamma"  or  sister",  while  Bessie  would  receive,  as 
it  seemed  to  them,  only  occasionally  a  large 
military-looking  envelope,  with  "  Headquarters  So 
and  So"  printed  on  the  left  corner.  It  looked 
very  imposing  to  those  young  girls,  but  also  very 

sad. 

i* 


6  HALF  MARRIED. 

At  the  end  of  the  war  General  Lansing  went 
North  to  fetch  his  daughter,  and  was  astonished 
and  almost  frightened  to  find  instead  of  the  little 
child  of  his  dreams  a  young  girl,  almost  a  young 
lady. 

Very  soon  he  was  ordered  to  the  frontier.  He 
gave  Bessie  a  truthful  picture  of  the  inconven- 
iences and  trials  she  undoubtedly  would  en- 
counter if  she  came  with  him,  and  told  her  that 
she  could  come  or  remain  at  school,  just  as 
she  preferred.  She  unhesitatingly  told  him  she 
would  never,  never  let  him  go  without  her,  and 
she-  believed  she  would  go  with  him  even  if  he 
said  she  shouldn't. 

The  general,  poor  lonely  man,  was  happier  over 
this  little  bit  of  insubordination  than  he  had  been 
over  anything  for  many  years. 

The  idea  had  for  some  tim.e  haunted  him  that, 
perhaps,  during  the  years  of  separation  his  little 
girl  had  almost  forgotten,  or  at  least  ceased  to 
love  him ;  from  this  time  he  lovingly  recognized 
her  as  her  mother's  own  daughter. 

Thus  her  decision  was  made,  and  she  spent  five 
years  as  her  father's  constant  companion,  except 
upon  the  few  occasions  when  his  duty  was  too 


HALF  MARRIED.  j 

arduous  and  exposing,  at  which  time  she  had 
some  experience  of  life  in  cities. 

In  many  ways  he  brought  her  up  more  like  a 
son  than  a  daughter.  Not  wishing  her  education 
to  suffer  from  his  selfishness  in  having  her  with 
him,  in  spite  of  many  wanderings  and  circum- 
stances most  unfavorable  to  the  acquisition  of 
"  book-learning,"  he  kept  her  at  mathematics, 
which  she  despised,  French  and  German,  which 
she  liked,  history  and  literature,  which  she  adored. 

He  himself  taught  her  to  ride,  to  swim,  and  to 
shoot  at  a  mark,  but  most  carefully  suppressed 
any  tendency  to  rowdyism  that  this  regime  might 
induce. 

At  nineteen  she  could  ride  as  long  and  come 
out  as  fresh  as  any  officer  in  the  service.  She 
had  camped  out  many  times  with  her  father. 
Once  she  had  spent  six  months  in  the  Sierra 
Nevadas,  the  only  woman  in  a  party  of  forty 
officers  and  civil  engineers. 

She  boasted  that  her  health  was  so  perfect 
that  she  had  never  on  that  or  any  account 
caused  a  moment's  delay  in  any  expedition,  that 
she  could  cook  a  good  dinner  over  a  camp-fire, 
if  necessary  saddle  her  own  horse,  and  could 


g  (^/      HALF  MARRIED. 

start  for  any  place  with  her  father  at  five  minutes' 
notice. 

Her  wandering  life  had  given  her  little  oppor- 
tunity to  make  girl  friends.  One  indeed  she  had, 
— one  of  the  "  old  girls"  in  school. 

This  sage  was  six  years  the  senior  of  our 
heroine.  Seventeen  viewed  from  the  stand-point 
of  eleven  looks  Egyptian  in  its  antiquity.  Though 
their  correspondence  was  regular,  the  girls  had 
not  met  since  Mamie  left  the  "  Institute"  with  her 
blue-ribboned  diploma.  At  twenty  she  had  mar- 
ried a  young  clergyman,  and  was  living  in  Car- 
rington,  Connecticut.  Thus  it  seemed  improbable 
that  the  school-mates  would  ever  meet  again,  and 
Bessie's  experience  of  women  as  intimates  was 
necessarily  a  limited  one. 

It  certainly  was  not  to  her  credit,  but  in 
women  she  did  not  find  much  that  was  amus- 
ing. They  had  headaches  and  other  aches,  and 
could  not  ride  ten  miles  without  giving  out. 
She  had  never  forgiven  a  little  goose  of  a  woman 
who  had  caused  an  entire  riding-party  to  turn 
back  and  lose  their  whole  day's  pleasure.  Bessie 
said  she  ought  to  have  gone  on  "  if  it  killed 
her."  Indeed,  that  phrase  "  to  go  on  if  it  killed" 


HALF  MARRIED.  g 

was  consistently  lived  up  to  by  both  father  and 
daughter. 

She  really  believed  in  her  heart  of  hearts 
that  she  would  rather  "  fight  Indians"  than  sit 
all  day  over  a  long  needle  and  say  "  one, 
two,  three,  four"  at  it.  One  day  of  such  work 
would  surely  drive  her  mad.  Yet  she  sometimes 
felt  in  an  indefinite  way  that  she  was  inferior  to 
those  beings,  tame  and  uninteresting  as  they  were 
to  her. 

Men  she  simply  looked  upon  as  companions ; 
their  devotion  and  admiration  were  lost  on  her, 
and  love-making  she  deliberately  laughed  at. 
When  a  girl  deliberately  laughs  at  being  made 
love  to,  there  is  something  radically  wrong  in  her 
make-up.  Did  not  the  great  race  of  antiquity  say 
that  the  rational  soul  entered  the  male  body  at  the 
age  of  twelve  ?  And  did  not  the  soul  of  Mahomet 
wait,  confined  in  an  ugly  earthen  pot  shaped  like 
a  rimless  old-fashioned  beaver  hat,  from  the  crea- 
tion until  the  fifth  century  for  a  body  fit  to  receive 
it?  So  I  fear  our  heroine's  soul  was  "  unaccount- 
ably delayed,"  or  perhaps  only  needed  a  touch  of 
a  spark  divine  to  summon  it  into  its  proper  habi- 
tation. Be  that  as  it  may,  she  certainly  found  it 


IO  HALF  MARRIED. 

more  agreeable  to  have  pistol  practice  with  the 
handsome  new  major  than  to  sit  and  "  work"  with 
the  captain's  pretty  little  wife.  But  it  was  the 
shooting  that  was  the  attraction,  and  had  the 
major  taken  to  the  "  distaff"  and  the  little  lady  to 
fire-arms,  Bessie  would  still  have  followed  the 
fire-arms. 

That  she  was  considered  somewhat  cold  and 
indifferent  she  knew,  and  spending  much  of  her 
time  alone,  she  had  plenty  of  leisure  to  wonder 
vaguely  what  the  trouble  could  be.  She  knew 
surely  that  she  was  not  indifferent  to  her  father, 
and  that  they  had  full  confidence  and  trust  in  each 
other,  yet  she  knew  as  well  that  she  would  no  more 
have  confided  her  thoughts  and  feelings  to  him 
than  to  the  Articles  of  War  on  the  library  shelf. 

When  these  feveries  became  too  depressing  she 
had  her  horse  brought  round,  took  a  gallop, 
thought  if  her  mother  were  with  her  she  and 
things  generally  would  be  much  better  and  more 
understandable. 

In  boyhood  and  girlhood,  when  the  affections 
have  not  their  ordinary  and  natural  outlet  the 
effect  on  the  disposition  and  countenance  in  a 
short  time  is  very  marked.  Instinctively  children 


HALF  MARRIED.  r  \ 

are  afraid  of  being  misunderstood  and  laughed  at; 
and  when  this  fear  preponderates  over  their  in- 
born cravings  for  attention  and  confidence,  their 
impulses  and  quick  emotions  are  either  rendered 
sluggish  or  destroyed  entirely.  In  regarding  the 
faces  of  the  children  in  an  "  institution,"  no  matter 
how  kindly  they  are  cared  for,  the  suppressed 
expression  of  both  large  and  small  touches  the 
heart  quicker  than  the  cold  hands  and  ragged 
clothing  of  the  street  gamin.  Bessie's  peculiar 
life  had  developed  that  pre-eminently  American 
trait,  adaptability,  in  a  high  degree.  She  solemnly 
averred  that  her  home  was  where  her  father — and 
her  tooth-brush — happened  to  be.  Her  great 
characteristic  was  love  of  the  truth,  and  with  the 
uncompromising  cruelty  of  youth,  anything  ap- 
proaching deception  found  from  hfir  no  quarter. 
In  her  make-up  of  vigorous  and  decided  convic- 
tions there  was  no  city  of  refuge  for  such  offenders. 
Upon  one  occasion,  after  commenting  upon  one 
of  those  little  unpleasantnesses  that  occur  even  in 
the  best  regulated  garrisons,  the  fort  chaplain 
gently  remonstrated  with  her :  "  Miss  Bessie,  you 
are  too  severe ;  it  is  sometimes  hard  for  even  the 
best  and  strongest  of  us  to  be  perfectly,  nobly 


12  HALF  MARRIED. 

honest.  You  are  always  courteous,  cannot  you 
be  also  pitiful  ?" 

"Yes,  sir;  I'll  try."  And  she  walked  off,  won- 
dering if  she  could  ever  forgive  a  lie,  or  in  any 
circumstances  be  guilty  of  one  herself. 

After  this  short  sketch  of  father  and  daughter, 
we  will  let  Bessie  herself  describe  some  of  her 
adventures  and  surroundings. 

"  FORT  DERBY,  Nov.  20,  187-. 

"  DEAR  MAMIE, — 

"  We  have  only  been  back  to  what  we  consider 
civilization  a  couple  of  weeks.  We  were  in  camp 
in  the  Rockies,  you  know,  and  strange  adventures 
have  we  had.  One  day  Lieutenant  Arthur,  a 
young  friend  of  ours,  brought  me  in  a  wild-cat — a 
kitten,  rather — that  he  shot  three  miles  from  camp. 

"  For  three  mortal  hours  did  he,  Brown  (one  of 
the  soldiers),  and  I  toil  over  that  kitten.  Finally, 
behold  him !  skinned,  stuffed,  and  lying  down  to 
sleep  so  naturally  on  a  board  with  hair-pins  to 
hold  his  legs  in  place.  We  put  him  outside  of 
papa's  tent  to  dry,  and  as  it  was  near  night, 
calmly,  nay,  even  triumphantly,  went  to  our  re- 
pose, conscious  of  a  good  deed  done. 


HALF  MARRIED.  j^ 

"  In  the  morning  I  looked,  rubbed  my  eyes, 
and  looked  again.  Where  was  that  kitten?  had 
he  deliberately  walked  off,  feeling  as  he  looked, 
as  good  as  new  ?  No,  it  could  not  be.  As  soon 
as  Mr.  Arthur  made  his  appearance  we  examined 
the  ground,  and  here  and  there  in  the  snow  saw 
soft  tracks :  his  mother  had  scented  him  from  afar 
and  came  and  got  him. 

"  It  would  have  repaid  me  somewhat  for  losing 
the  work  of  art  if  I  could  have  seen  that  cat 
when  she  found  her  kitten  was  a  snare  and  a 
delusion,  a  specious  kitten  of  skin,  cotton,  salt,  and 
borax.  Wonder  if  she  tore  all  her  other  kittens 
to  pieces  to  see  whether  they  were  sinful  frauds 
or  not?  However,  if  we  lost  the  wild-cat,  we 
found  another  cat ;  he  was  a  most  engaging  little 
creature,  would  walk  up  softly  and  poke  his  nose 
in  the  tent  door.  We  allowed  him  liberties  of 
this  kind  rather  than  provoke  him  to  wrath  and 
retaliation.  After  duly  inspecting  us  he  took  his 
final  departure,  much  to  our  relief,  as  you  may 
imagine. 

"While  we  were  living  in  tents  the  mercury 
was  twenty  below  zero.  Doesn't  that  beat  Con- 
necticut '  all  hollow'  ? 

2 


!4  HALF  MARRIED. 

"  I  love  to  write  slang.  Papa  won't  allow  it  at 
all ;  he  says  if  the  '  occasion  demands  it'  I  may  say 
d — n, — as  if  I  ever  would, — but  slang  he  will  not 
have.  Don't  you  wonder  that  I  was  not  an  icicle  ? 
The  water  in  the  tents  froze,  the  medicines  and 
kerosene  likewise  froze,  and  the  guns  were  cov- 
ered with  frost.  My  bed  in  the  corner  was  a 
parti-colored  mass  of  blankets,  quilts,  etc.,  and  I 
always  slept  with  a  bright  red  '  tam-o-shanter' 
hauled  over  my  ears.  I  learned  from  a  scout 
how  to  tan  a  deer-skin ;  in  fact,  I  would  make  a 
good  Indian,  don't  you  think  so  ? 

"  By  the  way,  did  you  know  that  horses  wore 
snow-shoes?  They  do;  the  'shoes'  are  boards 
about  an  inch  and  a  half  thick  and  ten  or  twelve 
inches  square, — a  clamp  fits  over  the  hoof  and 
keeps  them  in  place.  I  never  saw  them  before 
this  last  expedition.  At  first  the  poor  beast  ap- 
pears about  as  comfortable  as  a  pussy  cat  with 
newspaper  stockings,  but  in  an  hour  or  two  he 
becomes  used  to  them,  and  gets  along  nicely ;  in 
fact,  without  them  he  would  not  get  along  at  all. 
Think  of  it !  I  have  had  a  pair  of  regular  cavalry 
boots  made;  as  they  accommodate  my  feet  and  two 
pairs  of  heavy  woollen  stockings  besides,  you 


HALF  MARRIED.  !$ 

may  have  some  idea  of  their  dimensions.  Little 
Tom  Campbell,  aged  ten,  whom  I  taught  to  swim, 
sent  me  the  cutest  pair  of  spurs  you  ever  saw ; 
you  see  my  roughest  riding  is  done  a  la  Mexi- 
cainc. 

"  My  few  trophies  of  this  and  other  expeditions 
ornament  my  large  but  rather  bare  room, — it  is 
over  our  parlor.  We  are  fortunate  in  having  a 
mansard-roof,  so  we  get  in  that  way  an  extra 
story. 

"  Please  send  me  a  dozen  pairs  of  gloves  when 
you  ship  our  freight  box, — you  know  the  shades 
and  styles,  am  sure  I  do  not, — also  a  pair  of  two- 
buttoned  eight  and  a  quarter  for  a  gentleman  (I 
lost  a  bet),  and  a  book  with  tales  of  blood  and  salt 
water  for  my  youthful  and  only  love,  Tom. 

"  Write  to  me  soon.     Ever  so  much  love  from 
"  Your  friend, 

"  BESSIE  LANSING. 

"  P.S. — Most  forgot  to  tell  you  that  we  are  ex- 
pecting a  new  officer,  Charlie  Waring.  He  grad- 
uated in  June,  and  not  very  high  either;  his  father 
was  an  officer  too,  and  died  in  the  war.  'They 
say'  he  is  wild  as  a  hawk,  though  not  a  bad 


!6  HALF  MARRIED. 

fellow,  and  has  mysteriously  gotten  through  with 
quite  a  sum  of  money, — gambling  no  doubt. 

"  I  imagine  he  is  sent  here  for  my  father  to  dis- 
cipline and  look  after.  Do  you  know  anything 
about  him  ?  Think  I'll  undertake  some  of  the 
discipline  and  looking  after  myself;  wouldn't  it 
be  fun?  B." 


CHAPTER    II. 

A  FEW  days  after  Bessie's  letter  was  written 
the  "youngster,"  Charles  Waring,  duly  reported  at 
headquarters;  and  that  evening,  arrayed  in  his 
uniform,  which  was  still  a  novelty,  he  intended 
making  his  "  social"  call  on  the  general. 

He  was  twenty-three  years  old,  and  looked 
even  younger.  His  eyes  were  perfectly  blue, — 
that  color  which  the  learned  in  such  matters  say 
is  gradually  becoming  extinct.  His  thick  eye- 
lashes curled  upwards,  and  with  his  rather  too 
heavy  eyebrows,  turning  up  curiously  at  the 
corners,  gave  him  an  expression  of  singular  alert- 
ness. His  mouth  was  rather  large,  with  the  lips 
sufficiently  firm  to  counterbalance  to  some  extent 
the  rather  infantile  expression  of  the  blue  eyes 
and  straight  nose. 

He  had  a  trick  rare  among  young  people,  of 
laughing  with  his  mouth  closed,  and  rarely  showed 
a  set  of  fine  but  not  beautiful  teeth.  Gentlemen 

at  that  time  had  not  adopted  the  prize-ring  style 
b  2*  17 


1 8  HALF  MARRIED. 

of  wearing  their  hair,  and  his — since  he  left  the 
Academy — was  allowed  to  curl  in  rather  crispy 
light  rings. 

When  he  suddenly  lifted  his  cap,  the  natural 
color  of  his  forehead  was  so  much  whiter  than 
his  face  it  almost  surprised  one  into  a  laugh. 
Though  shorter  than  the  average,  he  was  perfectly 
built,  giving  one  that  idea  of  activity  and  grace 
more  usual  in  the  sailor  than  in  the  soldier.  His 
hands  were  unusually  small,  his  feet  phenomenally 
so,  and,  encased  in  the  finest  and  most  stylish  of 
shoes,  were  his  one  vanity.  A  New  York  belle 
said,  "  Scrapes  was  suggested  by  every  expression 
of  his  countenance  and  turn  of  his  body  as  com- 
pletely as  if  Charles  Lever  had  manufactured  him 
for  a  particular  occasion." 

Before  starting  on  this  formidable  visit  he 
wanted  what  he  called  "  points,"  so  he  wouldn't 
put  his  foot  in  it.  He  had  heard  of  Miss  Lan- 
sing, and  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that  he 
would  try  his  hand — or  rather  his  eyes  and  feet — 
at  a  flirtation.  In  fact,  he  had  attended  so  assid- 
uously to  that  branch  of  his  education  that  he 
narrowly  escaped  being  "  found"  'in  other  more 
important  directions. 


HALF  MARRIED.  jg 

He  walked  over  to  Lieutenant  Arthur's  quarters 
— who  was  two  classes  ahead  of  him — for  the 
desired  information. 

"Arthur,  I'm  going  to  make  my  call  on  the 
general." 

Arthur  knew  what  he  wanted,  but  answered 
with  malicious  gravity, — 

"  You  will  find  him  a  delightful  gentleman." 

"  Arthur,  is  Miss  Lansing  pretty  ?" 

"  Very." 

"Stylish?" 

"  Depends  whether  she  has  on  her  cavalry  boots 
and  Major  White's  old  forage-cap,  or  is  gotten  up 
like  a  civilized  being." 

"  Bright  ?" 

"  Indeed  she  is,  rather  alarmingly  so  at  times ; 
a  man  that  does  not '  read'  is  an  abomination  in 
her  eyes,  and  she  never  is  at  a  loss  for  a  reply." 

Arthur  saw  he  must  proceed  or  be  catechised, 
so  he  went  on, — 

"  The  old  general  gave  a  dinner-party  last  spring. 
The  Bishop  of  Walla-Ha  came  here  on  a  visita- 
tion. At  the  same  time  an  old  admiral  drifted 
along  from  no  one  knows  where ;  that's  where  they 
generally  come  from,  I  believe.  At  the  dinner,  as 


2Q  HALF  MARRIED. 

is  often  the  case,  Miss  Bessie  was  the  only  lady 
present ;  she  often  sits  through  the  cigars  and  all, 
still  as  a  mouse  and  taking  in  everything  with  the 
smoke. 

"  Finally,  after  some  of  the  regulation  toasts 
were  drunk,  Carsten  here, — you  remember  him 
at  the  Point  ? — conceited  jackanapes,  for  some  re- 
markable reason  only  known  to  himself,  perhaps 
he  was  a  little  muddled,  proposed  that  Miss  Lan- 
sing should  give  the  next  toast.  Before  the 
general  or  any  of  us  had  recovered  from  our 
surprise  she  rose  from  her  chair,  and,  bowing  first 
to  the  bishop  and  then  to  the  admiral,  said,  '  Gen- 
tlemen, here  is  to  the  Army' — a  pause — '  of  the 
Lord  and  the  Navy  of  Uncle  Sam  !'  She  retired 
immediately,  having  made  the  hit  of  the  evening, 
and  completely  captivated  the  two  honored  guests. 
A  professional  diner-out  couldn't  have  done  it 
more  neatly.  She  is  horribly  severe,  too,  when 
occasion  requires,  and  sometimes  when  it  does  not. 
Like  her  father,  she  is  a  stanch  Episcopalian,  and 
is  quite  capable  of  holding  her  own  in  an  argu- 
ment, though  she  never  'talks  religion.'  We  had 
a  call  from  a  revivalist,  and  from  some  cause  or 
other  she  went  to  hear  him.  Unfortunately  for 


HALF  MARRIED.  21 

him,  he  pitched  into  Churchmen  right  and  left, 
and  more  than  intimated  that  the  amount  of  caloric 
laid  up  for  us  would  cause  the  Yuma  man  to  bring 
his  fan  and  umbrella. 

"A  few  days  after,  when  a  number  of  us  were 
grouped  together  waiting  for  our  horses,  the  poor 
man  slid  up  to  us.  He  went  up  to  Miss  Bessie, 
'  was  glad  to  have  seen  her  at  the  meeting,'  etc. 
I  knew  sooner  or  later  he  would  be  used  up, 
horse,  foot,  and  dragoons,  and  stood  by  to  see 
the  fun. 

"  After  some  discussion,  during  which  she  kept 
her  temper  most  beautifully,  he  asked  her  '  what, 
in  her  opinion,  was  the  greatest  argument  for  the 
truth  of  Christianity  ?'  She  drew  herself  up  till 
she  looked  as  tall  as  a  drum-major,  and  said, 
4  Sir,  the  greatest  argument  of  the  truth  of  Chris- 
tianity that  I  know  of  is  that  it  has  weathered 
eighteen  centuries  of  preaching !'  I  felt  sorry  for 
the  man.  I'm  inclined  to  think  he  will  leave  us 
henceforth  to  the  more  tender  mercies  of  his 
Lordship  of  Walla-Ha." 

"  Arthur,  haven't  you  a  particular  fancy  in  that 
direction,  now  really  ?" 

"  Heaven  forbid !    I  am  fond  of  her;  but  besides 


22  HALF  MARRIED. 

her  cold  streaks,  she  breaks  out  occasionally  into 
most  unexpectedly  careless  freaks  that  would  drive 
me  clear  frantic.  One  day  she  received  me  with 
the  skirt  of  her  dress  wrong  side  out,  and  didn't 
even  know  it  till  I  told  her;  and  though  she  looks 
so  trim,  I  know  sometimes  she  pins  the  buttons 
on  her  jacket  instead  of  sewing  them.  I  would 
do  anything  for  that  girl  but  fall  in  love  with  her." 

"  You  would  be  afraid  of  pins  and  the  cold 
shoulder,  eh  ?" 

After  this  rather  alarming  conversation,  Waring 
threw  away  his  cigar,  and  in  some  trepidation  soon 
found  himself  standing  in  the  storm-house  at  the 
general's  door.  Through  the  storm-house  window 
he  could  see  the  fair  occupant  of  the  room  and 
her  surroundings,  and  in  spite  of  the  cold  made  a 
reconnoitre  before  entering  the  enemy's  camp. 

The  parlor  was  a  square  room,  made  comfortable 
with  the  inexpensive  articles  at  hand.  The  three 
windows  were  deep-silled.  Two  had  all  the  cracks 
tightly  stuffed  with  cotton,  and  an  army  blanket 
was  folded  on  each  sill  to  keep  out  the  draught 
and  also  make  a  seat.  A  lounge  or  sofa  was 
drawn  up  near  the  fire, — it  was  covered  with 
bear-skins  and  a  red  blanket,  and  upon  being  in- 


HALF  MARRIED.  23 

spected  would  have  been  found  to  open  like  a  box 
and  contain  a  remarkable  assortment  of  heavy 
wraps  and  furs.  Four  or  five  camp  bookcases 
were  set  against  the  wall;  three  student's-lamps 
gave  their  soft  and  reliable  light  to  the  apartment  ; 
the  rather  ancient  carpet  was  quite  covered  with 
various  fur  rugs  and  mats.  An  ugly  stove  at  one 
side  sent  its  pipe  through  the  partition-wall,  so 
that  the  chimney-place  was  left  clear  for  the  wood- 
fire.  This  was  the  pride  of  the  general's  heart, 
and  was  kindled  regularly  at  four  o'clock. 

The  fire  formed  the  central  object  of  the  room. 
Though  at  present  only  a  mass  of  glowing  embers, 
it  threw  out  a  red  light  that  made  the  streak  of 
moonlight  pouring  in  through  the  window  look 
cold  and  uncomfortable.  On  a  deer-skin  in  front 
of  the  fire  three  kittens  were  warmly  curled  up, 
adding  greatly  to  the  general  air  of  comfort,  and 
there  was  the  young  lady  herself.  She  was  seated 
in  a  large  rocking-chair  reading  a  book  and  toast- 
ing one  slippered  foot  at  the  fire.  Her  profile, 
which  was  fine,  was  turned  towards  Waring;  and 
though  the  style  of  hair-dressing  at  that  time  was 
abominable  in  its  clumsiness,  he  saw  that  her  head 
was  well  shaped  and  well  set  on  her  shoulders.  Her 


24  HALF  MARRIED. 

hair  was  quite  dark  and  not  as  curly  as  his,  her 
eyes  were  gray,  her  hands  were  rather  large,  slender, 
and  remarkably  white,  but  he  thought  the  wrists 
too  heavy  for  feminine  beauty.  Her  foot  amused 
him :  it  was  slightly  elevated  on  a  block  that  had 
evidently  been  taken  from  the  turkey-red  covered 
wood-box  and  improvised  into  a  footstool.  It  was 
a  good-shaped  foot,  but  large,  and  what  astonished 
him  exceedingly,  it  was  encased  in  a  bright  blue 
woollen  stocking.  At  that  time  it  had  not  entered 
into  the  feminine  mind  to  array  her  lower  extrem- 
ities in  the  guise  of  barber-poles,  checker-boards, 
or  flower-gardens,  so  the  blue  stockings  quite 
upset  our  young  friend's  ideas  of  the  fitness  of 
things. 

After  this  critical  inspection  he  made  his  en- 
trance, and  in  a  moment  found  himself  in  Miss 
Lansing's  presence. 

As  she  turned  her  full  face  he  saw  it  was  not 
as  perfect  as  the  profile,  and  she  was  a  little  too 
pale;  but  a  set  of  perfect  teeth,  a  fairly  jolly  smile, 
contrasting  with  the  soft  gray  eyes,  made  up  an 
unusual  and  captivating  combination. 

"  Miss  Lansing !" 

"  Mr.  Waring !  I  am  sorry  papa  is  not  at  home." 


HALF  MARRIED.  2$ 

He  looked  at  the  teeth  and  dimples  and  con- 
cluded that  he  could  stand  it. 

"  Sit  here  by  the  fire ;  you  must  take  off  your 
cloak  and  gloves.  We  would  all  die  of  pneumonia 
in  two  weeks  if  we  kept  our  wraps  on  inside  and 
then  went  out  into  the  cold ;  here  we  consider  our 
health  first  and  manners  next." 

After  some  chit-chat  she  suddenly  said, — 
"  Excuse  me,  poor  kitty  is  crying  to  get  in." 
There  was  an  enormous  Maltese  cat  on  her  hind 
legs  apparently  endeavoring  to  raise  the  window 
with  her  fore  paws.     Puss  was   brought  in,  and 
Bessie  started  to  poke  up  the  fire  for  her  benefit. 
Waring  rose  to  assist  her. 

"  Oh,  no ;  I'm  stoker-in-chief;  no  one  else  dares 
touch  this  fire.  In  fact,  last  year — we  were 
snowed  up  for  two  weeks — it  was  awfully  dull, — 
the  young  doctor  who  had  just  arrived  poked  up 
this  fire  one  evening.  After  dinner  we  had  him 
court-martialed :  he  had  scared  the  cat  and  burned 
a  hole  in  the  carpet.  He  was  sentenced  to  mend 
the  carpet  and  make  an  apologetic  speech  of  five 
minutes'  length  to  puss ;  it  began,  '  Oh,  Felis 
felix/  and  was  a  very  bright  oration.  You  see 

what  might  have  been  your  fate." 
B  3 


26  HALF  MARRIED. 

After  half  an  hour,  during  a  short  pause  in  the 
conversation  Bessie  coolly  took  out  her  watch 
and  looked  at  it.  Waring  flushed  with  indignation 
to  the  roots  of  his  curly  hair,  gathered  up  his 
cloak  and  said  "  Good-evening."  Bessie  saw  in  a 
second  what  was  passing  in  his  mind. 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Waring,  I  beg  your  pardon,  I  did  not 
mean  that :  I  only  wanted  to  see  how  long  before 
papa  would  be  home.  We  are  all  so  intimate  here 
I  quite  forgot  you  were  a  stranger;  he  will  be 
here  in  twenty  minutes,  and  I  am  going  to  make 
his  punch,  and  with  the  last  two  lemons  in  the 
garrison.  I  never  ask  gentlemen  to  take  punch ; 
he  will  ask  you  of  course.  Now  sit  still,  and  I'll 
consider  myself  forgiven.  No,  you  can  come 
with  me  and  help." 

They  walked  into  the  dining-room,  procured  the 
decanters,  glasses,  etc.,  and  from  a  small  closet 
Bessie  brought  out  a  little  copper  kettle.  It  was 
battered  and  bruised,  having  gone  through  many 
campaigns  and  adventures.  Her  mother  had 
bought  it  for  the  general  many  years  before,  and 
though  it  had  outlasted  its  good  looks,  it  was  still 
an  invaluable  addition  to  the  menage. 

The  kettle  filled  with  warm  water  was  hung  by 


HALF  MARRIED.  2/ 

a  chain  to  a  hook  in  the  chimney,  and  before  the 
general  arrived  the  kettle  was  singing,  the  cats 
were  purring,  the  glasses  were  hot,  Waring  was 
intensely  comfortable,  and  almost  resigned  to  the 
blue  stockings. 

After  her  father's  arrival  Bessie  dropped  the 
character  of  hostess,  and  turned  Waring  over  to 
his  care  until  his  departure.  Thus  instead  of 
making  a  formal  call  he  had  spent  the  evening. 

As  he  walked  by  Arthur's  room,  where  a  lot  of 
the  fellows  were  smoking,  that  officer  called  out, — 

"  Waring,  won't  you  come  in  ?" 

"  No,  thank  you,  not  to-night." 

"  Did  you  meet  the  enemy  ?" 

"  Yes ;  I  met  the  enemy,  and  we  are  theirs." 

"  Just  what  I  expected,"  grunted  Arthur ;  "  al- 
ways in  some  scrape."  ' 

Waring  was  greatly  impressed  with  his  first  day 
of  frontier  life,  and  soon  went  to  a  happy  dream- 
land, peopled  with  pretty  girls  and  Maltese  cats 
all  in  their  blue  stockings. 

Bessie  was  quite  captivated  with  this  handsome 
boy,  as  she  thought  him.  She  wondered  if  it 
could  be  true  that  he  was  so  wild?  if  he  was  bad? 
No,  she  could  not  believe  that ;  but  why  couldn't 


28  HALF  MARRIED. 

men  behave  themselves  anyhow,  particularly  when 
they  were  "  nice"  ?  After  these  philosophizings 
she  read  the  evening  service  out  of  a  small  Prayer 
Book  that  looked  as  if  it  had  endured  as  many 
campaigns  as  the  copper  kettle,  thought  of  this 
"  wild"  young  man  in  her  prayers,  and  slept  as 
only  those  with  clear  consciences  and  good  diges- 
tion can  sleep. 


CHAPTER    III. 

IN  a  few  weeks  Waring  had  managed  in  some 
way  to  be  thoroughly  at  home  in  the  general's 
household.  It  was  more  by  that  happy  faculty 
which  only  the  best-bred  men,  and  but  few  of 
them,  possess  of  "  never  being  in  the  way"  than  by 
any  pushing  on  his  part  or  exertion  on  Bessie's. 

If  she  was  to  write  a  letter,  figure  up  the  ac- 
counts, or  even  go  in  another  part  of  the  house, 
Waring  was  given  a  book,  told  to  be  bon  enfant, 
and  left  to  his  own  devices.  He  was  not  to  dis- 
turb the  general  or  torment  the  cat ;  with  these 
two  restrictions  the  house  was  at  his  disposal. 

Bessie  took  much  pleasure  in  this  young  fellow's 
companionship.  It  was  a  new  and  delightful  sen- 
sation to  have  some  one  to  talk  to  at  any  time, 
particularly  when  the  some  one  was  handsome 
and  interesting.  That  he  fancied  her  and  was 
content  in  her  presence  she  could  not  fail  to  dis- 
cover, but  that  this  "  mere  boy"  was  sincerely  in 

love  with  her  she  never  imagined  any  more  than 

3*  29 


j0  HALF  MARRIED. 

she  expected  a  formal  proposal  from  her  infantile 
admirer,  Tom  Campbell. 

In  spite  of  her  enjoyment  in  the  course  affairs 
had  taken,  she  felt  a  vague  uneasiness. 

Though  Waring  had  given  no  indication  of 
that  wildness  with  which  he  was  credited  at  the 
Academy,  she  could  see  that  he  was  not  quite  liked 
by  the  younger  men  and  not  entirely  approved  by 
the  older  ones. 

Upon  one  occasion  he  had  kept  a  riding-party 
waiting  five  minutes.  The  general,  being  the  soul 
of  punctuality,  looked  with  positive  anger  on  this 
careless  offender ;  but  as  it  was  a  pleasure  excur- 
sion, not  in  the  line  of  duty  at  all,  nothing  was 
said. 

Once  he  had  lost  his  temper  and  sworn  at  his 
men.  She  knew  if  that  happened  again  there 
would  be  a  reprimand.  Many  of  the  general's 
soldiers  had  braved  war,  starvation,  and  cold  with 
him ;  and  though  he  was  a  strict  disciplinarian,  he 
was  interested  in  them  personally,  looked  out  for 
their  welfare,  and  would  have  them  treated  as  men. 
Then  he  did  not  go  to  church,  which  both  offici- 
ally and  personally  hurt  the  chaplain  and  annoyed 
the  general.  In  fact,  his  disagreeableness  to  his 


HALF  MARRIED,  ^l 

superiors  was  not  from  any  overt  act  of  insubordi- 
nation, which  would  have  been  speedily  suppressed, 
but  from  an  entire  though  good-natured  disregard 
of  their  advice  and  suggestions. 

The  doctor,  old  enough  to  be  his  father,  gently 
hinted  that  he  was  not  sufficiently  clad,  and  rec- 
ommended heavier  boots ;  he  paid  no  more  atten- 
tion to  that  than  he  did  to  the  chaplain's  quietly- 
expressed  hope  "  that  we  will  see  you  at  service 
next  Sunday."  Having  expressed  atheistical 
views,  more  in  a  fashionable  than  a  profound  way, 
the  little  community  also  had  that  against  him. 
On  the  other  hand,  no  one  could  question  his 
honesty  and  generosity  of  character,  or  his  earn- 
estness and  dash  in  any  unusual  or  arduous  duty. 

Bessie,  after  considering  the  matter  at  some 
length,  concluded  that  'as  the  young  lieutenant 
had  constituted  himself  to  some  extent  a  member 
of  the  family  she  was  at  liberty  to  speak  plainly  to 
him  of  these  his  misdoings,  and  if  he  came  that 
evening  while  her  father  was  at  the  Weekly 
Whist  Club  at  the  major's,  she  would  give  him  a 
"  good  talking  to." 

She  was  a  little  nervous  in  looking  forward 
to  this  interview,  however,  for  she  had  never 


32  HALF  MARRIED. 

interfered  in  any  military  matters.  To  be  a  Mrs. 
Major  O'Dowd,  straightening  out,  or  rather  tan- 
gling up  the  affairs  of  the  post,  was  to  her  mind 
the  last  stage  of  infamy.  Wishing  to  appear  as 
little  formidable  as  possible,  she  put  on  her  long 
black  silk  dress,  turned  it  in  at  the  neck,  put  some 
illusion  around  the  throat,  pinned  it  with  a  gold 
pin, — a  little  bayonet  with  a  ruby  heart  on  its 
point,  that  she  called  "  love  and  war," — donned 
red  stockings  this  time,  and  seated  herself  by  the 
fire  to  gather  her  forces  for  the  onslaught. 

In  a  short  time  she  heard  Waring  whistling, 
softly,  "  0  luce  di  guest'  anima,"  and  the  cold  snow 
creaking  under  his  footsteps.  Soon  he  was  seated 
in  the  warm,  cosey  room,  but  seemed  unable  to 
"  thaw  out,"  as  he  expressed  it.  Bessie  saw  that 
he  was  almost  in  a  chill,  and  that  his  boots  were 
soaking  wet. 

"  How  in  the  name  of  common  sense  did  you 
get  your  feet  wet  in  this  weather  ?  I  never  saw 
a  man  so  bent  on  his  own  destruction." 

"  Why,  I " 

But  his  teeth  chattered,  and  the  mystery  was 
never  explained. 

"  Now,  I'll  bring  you  some  dry  shoes,  and  then 


HALF  MARRIED. 


33 


I  will  hang  up  the  kettle  and  give  you  some  hot 
whiskey." 

She  ran  up-stairs,  brought  down  a  pair  of  the 
obnoxious  blue  stockings  and  a  pair  of  her  own 
slippers,  and  while  Waring  made  his  toilet  in  the 
dining-room  she  arranged  the  kettle  in  the  fire- 
place. 

The  stockings  and  slippers,  though  a  tight  fit, 
were  put  on,  the  small  boots  and  socks  laid  before 
the  fire  to  dry,  the  hot  dose  duly  administered, 
and  the  two  young  people  settled  themselves 
down  to  a  sociable  evening. 

Waring  was  apparently  lost  in  admiring  con- 
templation of  one  of  his  small  feet,  Bessie  had 
just  interrupted  his  meditations  by  suavely  ex- 
claiming, "  It  is  pretty,  isn't  it  ?"  when  they  heard 
the  hall  door  open.  She  .put  the  glasses  quickly 
out  of  sight,  gave  the  boots  and  socks  a  most 
unladylike  little  kick  that  sent  them  behind  the 
big  red  box,  her  dress  rustled,  the  cat  was  startled 
and  jumped,  and  when  Carsten — who  was  the 
caller — entered  the  room  he  plainly  saw  that  his 
presence  had  caused  a  slight  commotion,  and  that 
something  had  been  doing  or  saying  that  was  not 
for  him  to  know. 


34  HALF  MARRIED. 

Carsten  was  a  fine-looking  though  not  a  pleas- 
ant-faced man,  and  his  powerful  physique  gave  one 
more  the  idea  of  brute  force  than  manly  strength. 
He  seated  himself  comfortably :  evidently  he  did 
not  intend  to  leave  for  some  time.  Bessie  was  on 
pins  and  needles :  she  wanted  to  give  Waring  his 
boots  then  and  there  and  send  him  home.  Carsten, 
who  always  had  a  discontented  expression,  now 
looked  black  as  a  thunder-cloud,  Waring  relapsed 
into  the  sulks,  and  she  heartily  wished  them  both 
in  their  own  quarters.  After  an  hour  of  this 
misery  Carsten  left.  She  rather  snappishly  handed 
Waring  his  boots,  told  him  to  roll  his  socks  up  in 
his  pocket,  and  for  mercy  sake  to  go.  She  knew 
that  Carsten  had  his  suspicions,  and  did  not  wish 
to  further  them  by  having  Waring  remain  longer. 

She  saw  him  depart  with  relief,  and  wished 
devoutly  she  had  left  boots,  bottle,  and  all  in  plain 
sight.  "  Certainly  Mr.  Carsten  would  not  imagine 
that  I  had  allowed  Charlie  Waring  to  make  a 
dressing-room  of  the  parlor,  and  with  me  in  it." 

After  arranging  the  room  for  her  father's  return 
she  went  up-stairs,  and  passed  a  restless  night, 
being  possessed  with  an  unpleasant  presentiment 
that  trouble  was  ahead. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

THE  next  morning  at  the  mess-table,  when 
there  was  a  pause  in  the  conversation,  Carsten 
said,  quite  conspicuously, — 

"  Oh,  Waring,  I  was  very  sorry  to  interrupt  the 
little  tete-a-tete  last  night." 

"  Ah,"  returned  Waring,  "  if  your  contrition  was 
as  deep  as  your  call  was  lengthy,  your  sorrow  was 
deep  indeed." 

Carsten  turned  toward  him  as  if  he  would  strike 
him,  but  suddenly  checking  himself,  said,  with  an 
exasperating  sneer, — 

"  And,  Waring,  where  did  you  get  your  pretty 
new  socks  and  ties  from  ?" 

Arthur,  who  was  seated  by  Waring,  was  alarmed 
at  the  unpleasant  turn  affairs  had  taken,  and  broke 
in  with, — 

"  Do  stop  your  chaffing,  Carsten ;  do  let  us 
have  our  meals  in  peace  anyway."  And  with  a 
"for  all  our  sakes  keep  your  temper"  under  his 

35 


36  HALF  MARRIED. 

breath  to  Waring,  he  succeeded  in  gaining  a  truce, 
although  he  knew  that  war  was  declared. 

He  resolved  at  his  very  earliest  chance  to  see 
Bessie  and  tell  her  candidly  what  mischief  was 
brewing,  and  find  out  the  ground  of  Carsten's 
insinuations.  Some  he  thought  there  must  be,  as 
he  would  otherwise  hardly  have  dared  to  speak 
as  he  did.  As  he  was  going  off  for  several  days 
with  the  general,  he  wrote  to  Bessie  that  morn- 
ing,— 

"  DEAR  Miss  BESSIE, — 

"  I  am  very  anxious  to  have  a  long  talk  with 
you  before  I  leave  to-morrow.  It  is  a  beautiful 
day,  won't  you  take  a  walk  with  me  soon  after 
guard-mount  ? 

"  M.  A." 

Bessie  replied,  "  Yes,  with  pleasure ;"  and  at  the 
appointed  time,  arrayed  in  blanket-coat,  fur  cap, 
and  gloves,  she  started  off  with  her  friend,  know- 
ing that  Waring  was  going  to  be  the  subject  of 
discussion.  She  had  begun  to  realize  that  the 
adopting  and  disciplining  of  headstrong  young 
men  was  not  altogether  as  funny  as  she  had 
imagined. 


HALF  MARRIED.  37 

Neither  spoke  for  some  time,  and  Arthur  saw 
that  it  was  left  for  him  to  open  fire. 

"  Miss  Bessie,  it  has  always  struck  me  that  the 
man  who  had  not  the  courage  to  give  a  friend  a 
timely  word  of  counsel  or  warning,  even  at  the 
risk  of  being  considered  an  intermeddler,  was  very 
much  like  the  Frenchman  who  would  not  rescue 
the  drowning  man  because  they  had  never  been 
introduced.  I  think  you  can  have  no  doubt  of 
the  sincerity  of  my  friendship  for  you  and  General 
Lansing,  or  of  my  appreciation  of  your  hospitality 
and  kindness.  Therefore  you  can  imagine  that 
action  of  mine  that  endangers  this  friendship  is 
only  undertaken  from  the  purest  of  motives.  In 
plain  English,  I  am  going  to  ask  you  if  you  either 
know  or  care  what  you  are  doing  with  Waring  ? 
As  the  chaplain  says,  '  to  make  it  clear,'  I  will  put 
it  under  three  heads.  In  the  first  place,  you  must 
let  the  rest  of  us  know  our  ground.  Any  time, 
morning,  noon,  or  night,  that  we  go  to  your  house 
there  is  Waring  before  us." 

"  Well,  even  if  he  is,  half  the  time  I  am  reading 
or  writing,  not  even  speaking  to  him  or  thinking 
about  him." 

"  That  may  be,  but  we  other  fellows   do   not 


38  HALF  MARRIED. 

know  that,  and,  in  spite  of  your  manner  being 
unchanged,  we  feel  decidedly  de  trop.  If  Waring 
did  not  put  on  an  injured  air  and  relapse  into  his 
infantile  sulks  it  would  not  be  so  bad,  but  he 
shows  his  disgust  at  our  entrance  so  plainly  we 
cannot  help  supposing  him  the  one  favored  above 
all  others. 

"  In  the  second  place,  if  you  are  engaged  to  him 
say  so." 

"  As  he  has  never  asked  me,  the  probabilities 
are  that  I  am  not." 

"  Never  asked  you  !  You  know,  Bessie  Lansing, 
that  every  tone  of  his  voice  and  glance  of  his  eye 
shows  his  love  for  you,  if  he  hasn't  said  it  in  so 
many  words.  The  other  evening  when  he  got 
the  captain's  spur  out  of  your  dress,  his  manner 
was  so  full  of  devotion  we  fellows  confidently  ex- 
pected to  see  him  kiss  the  hem  of  your  garment." 

"  It  hasn't  a  hem." 

"  Well,  the  bias  gimp,  or  whatever  you  call  it. 
And  then — forgive  me — but  as  you  are  not  ready 
to  acknowledge  him  openly  as  your  lover,  do  not 
allow  him  any  privileges  above  the  rest  of  us." 

Bessie  turned  to  him  with  heightened  color  and 
flashing  eyes, — 


HALF  MARRIED. 


39 


"  Lieutenant  Arthur,  that  at  least  you  have 
neither  right  nor  excuse  to  say  to  me.  Do  you 
think  that  after  living  all  these  years  with  men  as 
my  constant  and  often  sole  companions  I  am 
foolish  enough  to  put  myself  deliberately  at  the 
mercy  of  any  one  of  you  ?" 

"  Miss  Bessie,  before  you  go  off  in  a  temper 
please  listen  to  me."  And  he  recounted  the  scene 
at  the  mess-table.  "  You  see  it  is  not  enough  for 
you — or  any  other  girl — to  be  convinced  of  your 
own  dignity,  you  must  have  all  the  world  con- 
vinced also,  particularly  the  masculine  part  of  it." 

Then  Bessie  gave  him  the  history  of  the  affair, 
and  Arthur  promised  that  in  a  quiet  way  he  would 
explain  matters  and  make  it  all  right 

"  The  third  thing  is  the  hardest  of  all,  for  to 
speak  ill  of  a  brother-officer,  and  a  superior  in 
rank,  behind  his  back  savors  of  cowardice,  but  do 
be  careful  of  offending  Carsten.  For  some  reason 
he  has  a  grudge  against  you  or  the  general,  and 
if  he  can  hurt  you  through  Waring,  and  with 
safety  to  himself,  he  will  do  it.  Thrown  together 
as  we  are  and  depending  almost  entirely  upon 
ourselves  for  society  and  amusement,  any  break 
or  quarrel  would  be  a  general  calamity." 


40  HALF  MARRIED. 

"  I  hate  Mr.  Carsten,  too,  and  will  tell  you  why. 
A  few  days  before  he  left  the  East  he  was  at  a 
dinner-party  in  New  York ;  at  the  same  party  was 
a  young  married  lady,  a  friend  of  mine.  Some 
remarks  were  made  about  the  loneliness  of  frontier 
life,  how  he  would  pass  the  time,  etc.  He  then 
and  there  avowed  his  intention  of  having  a  flirta- 
tion with  old  Lansing's  daughter.  Then,  too,  he 
said  my  mother  was  a  '  rebel' !  I  heard  of  his 
impudent  speeches  before  I  saw  him,  and  was  on 
my  guard.  I  had  not  the  slightest  idea  of  playing 
coon  to  his  Captain  Scott.  Still,  I  acted  as  if  I 
had  heard  none  of  his  ungentlemanly  remarks, 
and  was  always  polite  to  him.  One  evening  he 
was  at  the  house  and  asked  me  if  I  would  walk 
over  with  him  and  call  on  the  doctor's  wife.  I 
said  '  certainly,'  opened  the  lounge-box,  got  out 
my  wraps,  handed  him  my  coat  to  hold,  and  put 
both  arms  in  the  sleeves.  While  he  had  me  thus 
'in  chancery'  he  deliberately  leaned  over  and 
attempted  to  kiss  me  on  the  cheek.  Nothing  ever 
made  me  so  mad  in  all  my  life,  everything  in  the 
room  seemed  to  whirl  and  dance,  and  in  half  a 
second  I  thought  of  telling  my  father,  of  striking 
him  across  the  face  with  my  riding-whip,  which 


HALF  MARRIED.  4I 

was  lying  on  the  table,  and  of  various  other  ridic- 
ulous things. 

"  Fortunately,  I  collected  my  wits  sufficiently  to 
say, '  Mr.  Carsten,  you  are  not  a  gentleman,  and 
you  are  a  coward !'  I  was  so  furious  I  expect  I 
looked  funny.  I  walked  out  of  the  room  and 
up-stairs.  After  a  few  moments  of  waiting  I 
heard  him  leave.  I'll  do  him  the  justice  to  say 
that  the  next  day  he  did  apologize  in  away, — '  He 
had  kissed  girls  before  and  they  had  never  gone 
into  a  tantrum,  etc.,  etc.' 

"  I  said  we  would  let  it  all  go  and  talk  no  more 
about  it,  but  as  you  may  imagine  we  have  not 
loved  each  other  since.  I  suppose  either  one  of 
the  offences  I  could  have  forgiven,  but  after  his 
speaking  as  he  did  of  my  father  and  mother  and 
daring  to  touch  me,  the  ugly  brute " 

"  Why,  Miss  Bessie,  don't  be  so  vindictive.  We 
will  return  to  our  interesting  young  mouton,  who 
being  neither  ugly  nor  a  brute,  you  may  become 
more  reasonable  and  amiable.  Waring  is  a  nice 
fellow  and  I  like  him,  but  I  would  not  like  to  have 
you  marry  him.  A  woman  of  your  nature  would 
never  be  happy  with  a  man  whom  she  knew  to 
be  her  intellectual  or  moral  inferior.  I  do  not 


42  HALF  MARRIED. 

know  just  how  to  express  it,  but  you  will  marry 
some  one  you  are  just  a  little  afraid  of." 

"  Rest  assured,  I  will  never  marry  Charlie 
Waring." 

"  You  do  not  know ;  he  seems  to  be  eminently 
lovable,  one  of  the  '  with  all  his  faults  I  love  him 
still'  sort.  Since  he  was  fourteen  he  has  been  the 
privileged  pet  of  some  woman  or  other.  Don't 
be  too  sure,  you  may  love  him,  too." 

Bessie  replied,  half  laughing, — 

"  I  did  not  say  I  would  not  love  him,  I  said  I 
would  never  marry  him." 

At  the  end  of  these  mutual  confidences  they 
were  almost  home,  and  before  they  reached  the 
door  Arthur  said, — 

"  Now  you  have  forgiven  my  lecture,  I  hope  ?" 

"  Indeed,  I  am  much  obliged,  and  will  try  to 
heed  your  sage  advice.  Come  in  to  supper  to- 
night at  six.  Papa  will  want  to  see  you  about 
the  final  arrangements.  By  the  way,  why  are  you 
all  going  to  Fort  Granger?" 

"Your  father  is  to  see  the  department  com- 
mander, and  they  are  to  arrange  about  some  ex- 
peditions as  early  as  possible  next  spring." 

"  Well,  at  six,  then." 


CHAPTER    V. 

THE  supper  passed  off  pleasantly,  guests  and 
callers  going  early,  leaving  the  general  and  his 
daughter  to  complete  his  preparations  for  de- 
parture. 

The  next  morning  they  breakfasted  by  lamp- 
light, and  by  the  time  the  sun  was  surely  up  the 
whole  party  were  in  the  saddle  and  away.  If  the 
weather  remained  pleasant  they  would  make  the 
fort  that  evening;  if  not,  the  early  start  would 
enable  them  to  reach  a  small  settlement,  more 
than  half-way,  where  they  could  find  some  sort 
of  shelter  for  the  night. 

Half  to  Bessie's  relief  and  half  to  her  regret, 
Waring  had  not  put  in  an  appearance  the  day 
before. 

Her  conversation  with  Arthur  had  left  her  more 
nervous  and  worried  than  she  cared  to  confess. 

By  noon  the  thermometer  had  fallen,  the  wind 
had  risen,  and  the  whole  world  seemed  a  mass  of 

whirling,  cutting,  stinging,   blinding   snow.      To 

43 


44 


HALF  MARRIED. 


keep  warm  any  place  was  an  impossibility.  As 
the  night  came  on  the  fury  of  the  storm  increased. 

Though  Bessie  had  every  reason  to  suppose — 
as  was  really  the  case — that  her  father's  party 
were  in  safe  quarters  hours  before,  she  could  not 
overcome  a  feeling  of  nervous  terror  and  a  most 
unusual  sense  of  loneliness,  which  for  some  un- 
accountable reason,  physical  or  mental,  at  times 
takes  possession  of  even  the  strongest  and  most 
practical  of  men  and  women. 

The  stove  was  doing  its  utmost,  additional  wood 
was  heaped  on  the  hearth,  extra  blankets  were 
hung  at  the  windows  and  door,  yet  every  blast  of 
wind  sent  a  shiver  through  the  girl's  frame,  and 
every  sound  made  her  start. 

It  was  only  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening,  but  it 
seemed  hours  since  the  early  breakfast. 

Knowing  she  could  neither  read  nor  sleep, 
and  that  no  one  would  be  out  such  a  night  who 
could  possibly  avoid  it,  she  concluded  to  make 
herself  a  cup  of  coffee,  pull  up  her  rather 
masculine-looking  writing-table  to  tha-  fire  and 
arrange  its  contents.  Letters,  papers,  and  ac- 
counts were  "  in  such  a  state"  that  this  occupation 
would  consume  considerable  time,  and  if  the  wind 


HALF  MARRIED.  4$ 

went  down  she  would  know  it  and  could  sleep  in 
peace. 

The  old  campaigner  was  hung  on  its  hook, 
the  table  drawn  near  the  ugly  though  much-ap- 
preciated stove,  and  Bessie,  after  the  manner  of 
young  women  who  set  about  desperate  and  solitary 
undertakings,  divested  her  head  of  "  rats"  and 
hair-pins,  twisted  up  her  long  hair  in  a  knot, 
fastened  it  with  a  comb,  and  started  in  this  deter- 
mined manner  to  make  a  night  of  it. 

She  was  just  seating  herself  when  she  thought 
she  heard  some  one  at  the  door.  Thinking  noth- 
ing short  of  calamity  or  accident  had  called  any 
one  out  that  awful  night,  she  hastily  flung  a  fur 
rug  round  her  shoulders  and  opened  the  outside 
door  herself. 

Waring — for  it  was  he — seemed  fairly  whizzed 
into  the  hall  along  with  the  snow  and  wind.  She 
saw  immediately  by  his  face  that  nothing  unusual 
had  occurred,  and  then,  woman-like,  thought, 
"  What  a  fright  I  must  be  with  my  hair  in  this 
fashion  and  a  bear-skin  on  my  back !" 

"  Ugh !"  gasped  Waring,  as  he  recovered  his 
breath,  "I  never  saw  such  a  night;  I'm  frozen  stiff." 

"  No  wonder ;  nothing  short  of  battle,  murder, 


46  HALF  MARRIED. 

and  sudden  death  would  bring  a  sane  man  out  in 
such  a  blizzard.  My  heart  jumped  into  my  mouth 
with  fright  when  I  heard  you.  Come  into  the 
parlor  and  get  warm." 

"  May  I  sit  on  the  deer-skin  in  front  of  the 
fire  ?" 

"  Anywhere ;  but  don't  disturb  my  cats :  they 
are  my  only  foul-weather  friends." 

"  Except  me." 

"  Yes,  excuse  me, — birds  of  a  feather, — go  and 
sit  with  the  cats.  My  walking  up  and  down  won't 
give  you  the  fidgets,  will  it  ?  I  am  too  nervous  to 
keep  still." 

Waring  watched  her  anxiously  as  she  paced 
back  and  forth. 

"  Mr.  Waring,  you  need  not  look  so  frightened, 
I  never  faint  or  have  hysterics ;  but  sometimes 
when  I  am  here  all  alone,  and  the  wind  howls  so 
dismally,  I  do  get  the  horrors.  One  night  long 
ago,  in  New  Mexico,  I  saw  a  party  of  men  come 
into  the  fort.  They  had  crossed  the  mountains 
from  the  north,  had  been  lost  in  the  snow ;  they 
had  lived  five  days  on  mule-meat, — think  of  it ! 
Their  clothes  hung  in  shreds ;  some  of  their  com- 
rades had  died.  A  night  like  this  brings  it  all 


HALF  MARRIED.  47 

back,  and  when  my  father  is  away  it  haunts  me." 
With  a  shudder  she  stood  still  in  her  walk. 

"  I  had  an  idea  you  would  be  awfully  lone- 
some; you  know  you  haven't  any  mother  or 
sisters;  I  suppose  that's  one  thing  makes  you 
different  from  other  girls ;  so  I  came  over  to  stay 
with  you  awhile,  if  you  want  me, — I  mean  if  you 
will  let  me." 

"  Mr.  Waring,  I  believe  you  are  the  first  person 
that  ever  was  sorry  for  me,  or  imagined — oh,  I 
am  so  desolate  sometimes !"  And  this  young 
Amazon  threw  herself  down  on  a  chair,  with  her 
head  and  arms  on  the  table,  and  began  to  sob  in 
a  most  undignified  manner. 

Our  young  hero  was  overcome  with  consterna- 
tion at  the  result  of  his  innocent  remark.  For  a 
few  moments  he  sat  perfectly  still,  listening  to 
the  shrieking  of  the  wind,  the  roaring  of  the  fire, 
and  the  girl's  sobs,  almost  ready  to  weep  too. 
Then  he  rose  and  quietly  seated  himself  by  her, 
began  smoothing  the  rather  disordered  hair  in 
a  gentle  childish  way,  and,  with  tears  in  his  eyes, 
said, — 

"  Oh,  Bessie  darling,  what,  what  did  I  say  ?  I 
did  not  mean  to  make  you  cry ;  won't  you  speak 


48  HALF  MARRIED. 

to  me?  I  did  not  mean  to  tell  you  for  a  long 
time,  but  you  must  know  that  I  love  you.  Of 
course,  you  cannot  love  me  so  soon,  but  by  and 
by  you  will.  Won't  you  try  ?  You  know  how 
sorry  I  must  be."  "  Puff,"  he  blew  out  the  lamp. 

With  his  instinctive  understanding  of  the  whims 
and  vanities  of  women,  he  knew  that  she  would 
never  raise  her  head  with  that  bright  light  in  her 
eyes.  Every  girl — poetry  to  the  contrary  notwith- 
standing— knows  that  when  she  is  in  tears  she  is 
simply  a  fright. 

How  often  it  is  that  these  careless  but  sympa- 
thetic young  dare-devils  carry  away  the  favors 
from  their  comrades, — men  frequently  handsomer, 
more  brilliant,  and  occasionally  more  upright  than 
they. 

There  are  two  things  that  a  thoroughly  refined 
and  educated  woman  involuntarily  shrinks  from, — 
that  plantigrade  style  of  flattery  from  the  "  hand- 
some man,"  who  is  generally  not  as  irresistible 
as  he  imagines  himself  to  be,  and  that  uncon- 
scious hardness  with  which  the  brilliant  or  suc- 
cessful man  of  the  world  walks  roughshod  over 
her  foibles  or  innocent  weaknesses. 

Does  not  this  in  a  measure  answer  the  question 


HALF  MARRIED.  49 

so  often  asked  by  men,  "  What  can  a  woman  of 
her  stamp  see  to  admire  in  a  fellow  like  that  ?" 

The  handsome  man  would  have  told  her  that 
in  tears  she  was  beautiful,  and  she  never  would 
have  believed  him  again.  The  brilliant  man 
would  have  sneered  at  such  nonsense, — inwardly 
of  course ;  but  she  would  have  known  it  all  the 
same,  and  shrunk  from  him.  Waring  blew  out 
the  light,  and  she  was  afraid  she  would  love  him. 

In  a  few  moments  she  had  composed  herself. 

"  Please  forgive  me  for  making  such  a  goose  of 
myself;  no  one  has  seen  me  cry  since  I  was  eleven 
years  old." 

"  We  will  come  over  by  the  fire  and  think  up  a 
cheerful  subject ;  you  sit  in  the  arm-chair,  and  I'll 
share  the  deer-skin  along  with  my  humble  com- 
panions." He  arranged  himself  comfortably,  lean- 
ing against  Bessie's  chair  for  a  back. 

For  a  few  moments  they  were  both  quiet,  lis- 
tening to  the  driving  storm.  Bessie  thought  now 
was  the  time  for  the  hard  duty  she  had  in  store, 
for  Waring's  declaration  coming  right  after  her 
talk  with  Arthur  left  her  no  conscientious  means 
of  escape.  She  summoned  all  her  courage,  and 

in  a  half-joking  way  began, 
c       d  5 


i|O  HALF  MARRIED. 

"  Monsieur  le  Lieutenant,  I  have  had  a  rod  in 
pickle  for  you  for  several  days,  and  you  must 
listen  to  me  with  respectful  attention." 

She  began  with  his  professional  peccadilloes, 
and  he  quite  good-naturedly  promised  to  amend. 

"  Then  you  must  go  to  service  on  Sunday." 

"I  think  going  to  church  is  a  piece  of  nonsense, 
anyhow." 

In  Bessie's  earnest  nature  a  thing  was  right  or 
wrong,  and  Waring's  boyish  nonsense,  to  her 
mind,  was  a  deliberate  crime.  It  was  a  subject 
she  could  not  talk  to  him  about  either,  so  she 
said,  very  gently, — 

"  But  my  father  and  most  of  your  superior 
officers  (you  are  the  infant  of  the  regiment,  you 
know),  happily,  think  differently ;  therefore  it 
would  be  much  pleasanter  for  us  all  if  you  will 

go." 

"  I  will,  if  I  can  go  with  you." 

"  Certainly  you  cannot  go  with  me.  Every 
man  and  woman  in  the  chapel  would  suppose  that 
I  had  bribed  you." 

"  I  don't  care ;  I'm  not  ashamed  to  have  every- 
body know  that  I  would  do  anything  you  asked 
me  to." 


HALF  MARRIED.  5  l 

"  You  do  not  understand ;  it  must  not  appear 
that  I  have  given  you  any  hints.  I  have  never 
before  interfered  with  any  garrison  matters.  This 
is  more  than  I  have  done  for  any  living  man.  It 
rests  with  you  whether  I  shall  bitterly  regret  it  or 
not." 

"All  right;  I  will  go  to  church." 

"  Another  thing  that  I  must  insist  upon :  that 
you  do  not  come  here  so  often." 

"You  are  just  like  all  the  rest  of  women:  now 
that  you  know  I  love  you,  you  don't  care  for  me, 
and  want  to  turn  me  adrift." 

Poor  Bessie  was  becoming  hopeless  over  this 
unreasonable  youth. 

"  Do  listen  and  keep  your  temper  long  enough 
to  hear  me  through.  I  do  not  wish  to  turn  you 
adrift.  You  know  we  have  other  friends  who  are 
entitled  to  consideration.  You  must  not  act  as  if 
every  guest  of  ours  was  a  trespasser  on  your 
premises.  It  is  hard  and  painful  for  me  to  speak 
so  to  you,  and  it  is  only  to  avoid  serious  trouble 
hereafter  that  I  can  bring  myself  to  do  it.  I 
hope  you  understand  me  and  are  not  angry." 

"  Am  I  to  be  put  on  an  allowance  of  visits, — a 
sort  of  half  rations  arrangement?  Shall  I  flee 


52  HALF  MARRIED. 

before  the  sedate  Arthur  and  that  d — d  Carsten  ? 
Oh,  I  didn't  mean  to  say  that.  Please  lay  out  the 
campaign  more  clearly." 

"  You  are  only  to  act  like  a  sensible  gentleman 
instead  of  a  spoiled  child ;  in  some  ways  you  are 
more  of  a  baby  than  Tom." 

His  good  nature  returned  at  this  sally. 

"  Now  let  me  go  over  my  lesson.  I  am,  to  be- 
gin with,  a  cat,  and  then  a  baby.  I'm  not  to 
swear,  not  to  bully  my  men,  to  be  always  on  time, 
to  go  to  church,  to  order  myself  lowly  and  rev- 
erently to  all  my  betters, — Arthur,  Carsten,  Major 
Doty,  &  Co., — to  bear  no  mal " 

"  Do  not  be  ridiculous,  for  the  hardest  thing 
for  me  to  say  is  yet  to  come." 

Bessie  looked  so  grave  that  he  quieted  down 
immediately. 

"  You  have  told  me  you  love  me ;  I  am  sorry 
you  have,  for  it  cannot  help  changing  our  very 
pleasant  relations.  I  can  never  feel  towards  you 
as  you  wish,  but  you  must  know  I  am  really  fond 
of  you;  if  I. were  not,  the  whole  matter  would  be 
comparatively  easy  for  us  both.  If  you  think 
best,  get  exchanged,  leave  us." 

"  Would  you  send  me  away  forever,  Bessie  ?" 


HALF  MARRIED.  53 

And  he  put  his  hand  over  hers  as  it  rested  on  the 
arm  of  the  chair. 

"  No,  I  will  not  send  you," — and  she  gently  drew 
away  her  hand, — "but  if,  after  thinking  it  over, 
you  consider  it  best  to  go,  I  shall  think  so  too. 
Being  as  fond  of  you  as  I  am,  I  am  afraid  you 
will  constantly  attribute  other  motives  to  my  ac- 
tions than  I  intend.  I  have  never  willingly  de- 
ceived any  one  in  my  whole  life,  and  if  you  con- 
tinue on  this  intimate  footing,  I  do  not  want  to  be 
reproached  in  months,  no,  nor  in  years  to  come, 
with  having  held  out  false  hopes.  Now  you  can 
think  this  all  over.  I  cannot  fly  from  the  danger; 
you  can ;  it  is  all  in  your  hands." 

"  There  is  no  need  to  think  it  over ;  you  do  not 
know  what  you  have  already  done  for  me.  I'm 
bad  enough,  no  doubt,  but  a  saint  to  what  I  was. 
Somehow  from  the  first  moment  I  saw  you — here 
through  the  window — I  have  been  different.  I 
have  not  played  for  a  cent,  and  have  not  taken  a 
drop  too  much.  I  will  go  to  the  devil  if  you 
throw  me  over." 

"Hush!  We  will  make  some  coffee,  and  after 
that  you  will  go — not  to  the  devil — to  your  quar- 
ters." 

5* 


54 


HALF  MARRIED. 


After  the  coffee  Waring  rose  to  leave. 

"  Now,  Bessie,  won't  you  leave  off  that  '  Mr.' 
and  call  me  Charlie  ?  You  need  not  think  that  I 
will  forget  that  you  have  said  you  will  never  love 
me;"  that  was  not  exactly  what  she  had  said. 
"  And  now  I  want  you  to  give  me  something, — it 
is  a  very  small  thing, — will  you  ?" 

She  naturally  imagined  it  was  a  kiss,  but  said, 
quite  innocently, — 

"  Why,  what  is  it  ?" 

"  Just  one  little  bit  of  a  curl." 

She  felt  ashamed  of  her  first  suspicion,  and 
hesitated  a  moment.  She  was  not  in  the  habit 
of  indulging  in  these  sentimental  pastimes,  and 
had  heard  more  than  one  man  laugh  over  his  col- 
lection of  "  reliques." 

"  What  will  you  do  with  it  ?  Hang  it  on  your 
belt  as  the  last  of  many  scalps,  and  exhibit  it 
like  the  other  braves  in  your  wigwam  ?" 

"  How  can  you  talk  so  when  you  know  I  love 
you !" 

"Very  well;  if  you  will  not  get  tragic  or  cross 
you  can  have  it.  Here  are  the  scissors.  No,  let  me; 
you  would  take  it  just  where  it  would  show  the 
most.  Your  own  curls  are  much  prettier.  Before 


HALF  MARRIED. 


55 


you  take  it  you  must  promise  me  one  thing,  that 
you  will  be  my  true  friend." 

It  was  the  only  way  to  bind  him  to  anything 
like  discretion.  She  had  all  confidence  in  his 
honest  intentions,  but  was  afraid  of  the  conse- 
quences of  his  childish  tempers  and  outbreaks 
of  jealousy. 

"  Now,  Bessie,  I  promise  solemnly  to  be  a  true 
friend.  Won't  you  seal  the  contract  ?" 

Arthur's  warning  was  just  in  time.  With  a 
mischievous  glance  she  said, — 

"  No,  thank  you ;  your  word  is  as  good  as  your 
bond.  If  papa  were  here  we  would  not  let  you 
go  home  such  a  night  as  this,  but  I  must  turn 
you  out.  Good-night,  man  enfant." 

And  Waring  was  ushered  into  outer  darkness 
with  the  brown  curl  warming  his  very  heart. 

Bessie  resumed  her  pacing  back  and  forth,  ask- 
ing herself  over  and  over  again  for  hours  what 
she  ought  to  do  in  this  affair,  and  how  far  she 
was  responsible  for  Waring's  welfare,  both  now 
and  in  the  future.  Awakening  suddenly  from 
her  revery,  and  finding  the  storm  much  less  vio- 
lent, she  decided  to  try  to  rest  during  the  few 
remaining  hours  of  the  night. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

THE  general  with  his  party  returned  safely  in 
the  course  of  a  few  days,  and  matters  went  on  in 
their  usual  way  for  some  months.  All  Bessie 
felt  capable  of  doing  was  to  guide  affairs  into 
quiet  and  peaceful  channels. 

Marry  Waring  she  could  not ;  yet  he  kept  her 
in  a  continual  state  of  anxiety.  To  have  for  a 
husband  a  boy  who  had  to  be  coaxed  and  threat- 
ened into  the  proprieties  was  too  much  of  an  un- 
dertaking. Then  there  was  that  mysterious  wild 
scrape,  whatever  it  might  be,  of  which  she  had 
vaguely  heard.  His  correct  deportment  since  his 
arrival  at  Fort  Derby  had  been  first  the  joke,  then 
the  surprise  of  his  associates,  and  in  fact  they  all, 
even  Bessie,  expected  a  relapse  sooner  or  later 
into  his  old  ways.  Living  so  much  in  small 
communities  where  the  domestic  relations  are  not 
hidden  from  one's  neighbors  by  the  multifarious 
conventionalities  of  fashionable  life,  Bessie  had 

had  some  sad  opportunities  of  seeing  the  misery 
56 


HALF  MARRIED. 


57 


brought  on  families  by  these  nice  fellows  who 
had  reformed  just  long  enough  to  draw  a  girl 
into  a  wretched  marriage,  from  which  she  was  too 
conscientious  or  too  proud  to  free  herself.  There 
was  a  woman  she  knew,  trying  to  bring  up  her 
sons  as  Christian  men,  with  a  father  dissolute,  ir- 
religious, selfish,  and  extravagant.  Then  again 
there  was  that  "  little  idiot,"  Lieutenant  Jones. 
Twice  she  had  encountered  him  just  in  time  to 
save  him  from  encountering  her  father,  and  for 
the  sake  of  his  poor  little  wife  had  guided  his 
uncertain  footsteps  home,  after  which  deed  of 
mercy  she  told  the  chaplain  that  all  the  way  she 
wanted  "  to  kill  the  little  beast." 

Then,  the  pay.  No  woman,  to  her  mind,  who 
had  a  particle  of  self-respect  would  marry  for 
money.  That  was  simply  infamous.  But  to 
marry  on  nothing,  that  was  not  to  be  thought  of 
either.  After  these  self-directed  arguments  her 
forcible  and  logical  conclusion  always  was,  "  I 
don't  want  to  marry  any  one,  and  I  won't.  So  /" 

But  what  was  she  to  do  ?  For  she  found  that 
Waring's  entire  devotion  was  becoming  a  neces- 
sity to  her.  She  could  not  send  him  away,  for  he 
ungenerously  held  over  her  head  his  threat  of 


58  HALF  MARRIED. 

"  going  to  the  devil."  Apparently  her  only  hope 
was  to  lead  him  up  to  a  reasonable  point,  where 
she  might  definitely  and  without  danger  break 
with  him.  One  thing  only  was  certain,  she  must 
at  any  cost  guard  against  letting  him  know  to 
what  extent  her  interest  had  centred  in  him. 

"  That  would  only  make  it  harder.  I  cannot 
marry  him.  In  a  week  he  would  choke  me  in  a 
fit  of  jealousy ;  and  if  he  got  drunk, — horrors  !  I 
believe  I  could  murder  some  men." 

Things  went  on  their  course,  and  spring  came. 
Bessie  allowed  as  little  love-making  as  possible, 
lectured  Waring  upon  wasting  his  time,  set  him 
reading  and  even  studying,  and  looked  forward 
with  both  joy  and  sorrow  to  the  time  of  his 
needing  her  no  longer,  and  going  away  strong 
and  brave  and  alone. 

In  spite  of  her  worry  and  perplexity,  she  found 
a  charming  side  to  this  present  existence.  Beside 
the  mere  pleasure  of  being  loved,  a  new  and 
delightful  influence  had  come  over  her. 

Her  life  had  hitherto  been  from  circumstances 
an  unusually  selfish  though  not  an  ungenerous 
one.  After  her  father's  few  wishes  had  been  con- 
sulted, she  had  only  herself  to  consider.  The 


HALF  MARRIED.  $g 

general  was  not  the  man  to  expect  any  but  the 
most  usual  manifestations  of  feminine  care,  and 
anything  like  gush  would  have  simply  appalled 
him.  Bessie  felt  that  in  some  mysterious  way 
the  world  had  grown  larger,  kinder,  and  more 
understandable  since  that  stormy  night  when 
Waring  had  so  gently  said  he  loved  her,  and 
that  maternal  instinct  which  love  always  awakens 
in  a  woman's  breast  made  her  take  an  almost 
fierce  pleasure  in  training  this  youth  in  the  way 
he  should  go.  Sometimes  the  temptation  to  tell 
him  what  a  blessing  he  was  to  her  cold  and  narrow 
life  almost  overcame  her ;  but  her  natural  caution 
prevailed,  and  she  would  only  say  to  herself,  "  Oh, 
Charlie,  if  you  only  knew,  how  surprised  you 
would  be ;  but  you  never,  never  will." 

During  one  of  these  meditations  Tom  arrived 
to  know  if  Miss  Bessie  would  go  riding  with  him. 

."  Yes,  my  boy,  in  half  an  hour.  I  see  it  clearly. 
My  mission  in  life  is  to  educate  the  rising  genera- 
tion. But  first  bring  a  rod, — not  for  your  back, 
my  son, — and,  according  to  my  rash  vow,  I  will 
teach  you  to  throw  a  fly ;  for  you  know  some  of 
these  days  we  are  going  on  a  trouting  expedition." 

The  general's  quarters"  had  a  wide  though  not 


60  HALF  MARRIED. 

highly-finished  porch  on  three  sides,  thus  they 
were  sheltered  from  some  of  the  cold  of  winter 
and  from  a  great  deal  of  the  heat  of  summer. 

On  one  of  the  three  sides  there  was  always 
some  breeze  to  be  found,  so  here  was  a  sort  of 
social  rallying-point  that  during  pleasant  weather 
was  more  used  than  the  inside  of  the  house. 
Enough  vines  climbed  over  the  various  posts  and 
trellises  to  make  a  pleasant  shade  and  afford  a 
slight  screen. 

Our  little  community  gave  themselves  up  to 
enjoying  summer,  as  only  we  who  have  a  nine 
months'  winter  can  do.  We  North  Americans 
read,  write,  and  think  of  the  inhabitants  of  those 
favored  spots  where  they  have  a  climate  instead 
of  weather  as  constantly  enjoying  their  privileges. 
But  does  the  swarthy  Italian  enjoy  his  noonday 
nap,  under  the  ivy-clad  wall  of  course,  as  much 
as  our  American  pater  familias  does  his  after- 
dinner  cigar  on  his  own  pretty  porch  on  a  moon- 
light summer  evening  ?  The  Italian  is  more 
picturesque,  but  not  as  comfortable  or  appre- 
ciative. 

The  Sandwich  Island  belle  on  her  surf-board 
never  having  felt  the  mercury  "  twenty  below," 


HALF  MARRIED.  6X 

cannot  have  the  same  realizing  sense  of  her 
enjoyment  as  the  dashing  New  Yorker  who  dons 
her  natty  bathing-suit  at  Newport,  knowing  that 
in  three  short  months  she  will  be  comfortable  in 
a  seal-skin  coat.  We  know  there  is  not  a  moment 
of  this  blessed  season  to  be  lost,  and  so  proceed 
to  make  a  business  of  enjoyment.  To  be  sure,  it 
is  often  in  a  way  that  strikes  awe  to  the  foreigner's 
soul  and  dyspepsia  into  his  stomach;  he,  poor 
man,  having  hitherto  imagined  that  even  the  dogs 
slept  between  eleven  and  three,  and  that  only  lions 
and  tigers  ate  meat  with  the  thermometer  regis- 
tering ninety  in  the  shade. 

This  almost  living  out  of  doors  made  Waring's 
coming  and  going  an  easy  matter,  but  his  being 
alone  with  Bessie  quite  difficult.  Everybody 
wandered  about  to  see  everybody  else.  Bessie 
had  noticed  for  several  days  that  he  had  some- 
thing on  his  mind,  and  wondered  if  at  last  he 
had  got  himself  into  trouble.  Arthur  assured 
her  that  he  had  not  to  his  knowledge,  but  she 
decided  to  find  out  for  herself  at  the  first  oppor- 
tunity. 

Late  one  afternoon,  when  the  usual  group  was 
on  the  porch,  the  irrepressible  Tom  came  along 


62  HALF  MARRIED. 

with  his  bow  and  arrows.  He  shot  an  arrow  that 
fell  on  top  of  the  veranda,  and  insisted  upon 
climbing  up  after  it.  Waring  told  him  he  would 
break  his  small  neck,  and  that,  if  Miss  Bessie 
would  let  him  take  off  his  coat,  he  would  get  it. 

He  threw  down  his  coat,  and,  with  the  help  of 
the  trellis  and  vines,  soon  gained  the  roof.  He 
had  quite  a  hunt  for  the  arrow,  and,  after  he  had 
thrown  it  down,  remained  some  little  time  in  his 
elevated  position,  saying  it  was  cooler  up  there. 
In  fact,  he  was  quietly  taking  a  view  of  Bessie's 
room. 

It  was  very  different  from  what  he  expected  a 
girl's  room  to  be  like.  The  furniture  he  hardly 
noticed.  The  walls  showed  a  collection  of  riding- 
whips,  a  pair  of  snow-shoes,  two  trout-rods, 
several  old  hats,  two  handsome  engravings,  and 
her  mother's  portrait.  Numerous  photographs  of 
her  friends  were  put  here  and  there,  and,  horror 
of  horror,  there  hung  over  the  mantel  a  little  rifle 
and  a  small  "  Smith  &  Wesson."  Her  boots 
stood  in  a  corner,  and  her  slippers  by  them  looked 
small  in  comparison.  As  his  eye  wandered  about 
the  premises,  he  noticed  tied  to  the  frame  of  the 
looking-glass  a  broken  spur,  which  he  recognized 


HALF  MARRIED.  63 

as  one  he  had  asked  her  "to  keep  a  moment" 
once  when  they  were  out  riding,  and  on  the 
bureau  there  was  his  photograph  balancing  the 
general's  dignified  face.  A  light  blue  tie  was 
lying  carelessly  on  the  pin-cushion ;  he  walked 
round  to  the  front  window,  all  the  time  chatting 
to  those  below  to  allay  suspicion,  reached  in  and 
captured  it,  and  then  lightly  swung  himself  down 
to  the  ground.  No  explorer  had  ever  met  with 
more  gratifying  or  more  unexpected  success.  He 
exhibited  the  trophy  so  Bessie  alone  could  see  it. 
Alas !  she  knew  he  had  seen  both  picture  and 
spur,  and  wished  Tom  and  his  weapons  at  a  re- 
spectful distance. 

Oh,  Master  Tom,  that  such  an  enfant  terrible  as 
you  should  pose  as  Cupid !  A  Cupid  with  knick- 
erbockers and  freckles ! 

The  conversation  turned  upon  a  fishing  excur- 
sion that  had  been  for  some  time  contemplated, 
when  Waring  asked  some  questions  exposing  his 
ignorance  upon  such  matters.  Bessie  saw  her 
opportunity,  told  him  "to  come  to-morrow  and 
be  posted  up." 

The  next  day  he  appeared  at  the  appointed 
time,  and  she  started  to  give  him  his  lesson, 


64  HALF  MARRIED. 

hoping  that  afterwards  of  his  own  accord  he 
would  tell  her  his  tribulations,  if  he  really  had 
any. 

She  was  one  of  those  people  who  inspire  the 
confidence  of  others,  and  become  very  encyclo- 
paedias of  their  friends'  disastrous  love-affairs  and 
melancholy  experiences  without  themselves  ever 
having  confided  a  single  disappointment  to  their 
nearest  and  dearest.  Probably  it  is  this  close- 
mouthedness  regarding  their  own  matters  that 
induces  the  rest  of  the  world  to  trust  if  not 
always  to  love  them. 

"  Now,  mon  enfant,  have  you  a  trout-rod  ?" 

"  Bessie,  I  would  not  know  a  trout-rod  from 
the  one  that  spares  the  child,  or  does  something 
like  that." 

"  I  will  lend  you  one,  but  I  will  have  to  show 
you  how  to  mend  it.  My  split  bamboo  that 
Major  White  left  me  I  would  not  lend  you  for — 
for  any  consideration.  Of  course,  you  haven't  a 
fly-book  ?" 

"  I  confess  with  humility  that  I  never  saw  one. 
There  was  not  one  volume  in  the  West  Point 
library." 

"  Your  ignorance  is  vast   enough,  don't  exag- 


HALF  MARRIED.  65 

gerate  it.  Here  is  mine ;  and  you  must  learn  the 
difference  between  a  Mole-chunk-a-muck  and  a 
'  Silver  Doctor,'  for  instance." 

"  A  what !" 

"  Now,  some  of  these  flies  are  copied  from 
nature  and  some  evolved  from  the  inner  con- 
sciousness of  the  tackle-maker.  Now,  this  is  a 
leader,  and  is  made  of " 

"  Catgut." 

"  No,  it  isn't ;  it  is  unwound  right  out  of  the 
silk-worm ;  he  is  pinned  down  fast  and  this  is 
pulled  off  his  reel." 

"  I  see ;  evolved  from  his  inner  consciousness, 
as  it  were." 

"They  come  from  Spain.  You  see  they  are 
not  two  feet  long.  I'll  show  you  how  to  make 
the  knots.  If  you  know  how  to  use  a  long  whip 
in  driving  you  can  easily  learn  to  cast.  Now 
that  I  have  enlightened  you,  it  is  the  turn  of  the 
next  youngest." 

"  Bessie,  why  do  you  always  talk  to  me  as  if  I 
were  a  child  ?" 

"  Never  having  pondered  the  question,  I  am 
not  prepared  to  answer.  Why  do  you  go  about 

looking   like    the    '  melancholy   Jaques'  ?      Hold 
e  6* 


66      .  HALF  MARRIED. 

that  tip  steady.  I  can't  wind  and  wax  the  silk 
when  you  jerk  like  that." 

"Some  time,  Bessie,  when  I  have  a  chance  I 
will  tell  you  why  I  am  troubled  and  sad." 

"  Well,  tell  me  now." 

"  No ;  it  would  take  too  long,  and  I  must  be 
sure  of  having  you  all  to  myself  for  some  time, 
— perhaps  when  we  are  off  on  this  excursion." 

"  There,  now,  is  quite  a  respectable  rod ;  see 
that  you  do  your  teacher  credit.  You  must  go 
now,  I  have  something  to  do." 

"  Will  you  wear  some  violets  this  evening  if  I 
send  them  to  you  ?" 

"  I  will  if  the  stems  are  long.  My  beloved  Tom 
brings  me  numbers,  but  in  a  state  of  hopeless 
decapitation.  Why  does  mankind  insist  upon 
taking  the  heads  off  things  generally,  flowers  and 
women  in  particular?" 

"  You  seem  very  fond  of  violets.  I  think  they 
are  expressionless  little  things." 

"  No  doubt  that  is  the  reason  they  always  make 
me  think  of  a  certain  pair  of  blue  eyes.  My  dear 
boy,  don't  kiss  my  hand.  It  is  very  big,  and  you 
are  very  foolish." 


CHAPTER    VII. 

A  COUPLE  of  mornings  after  this  the  sportsmen 
assembled  at  the  general's  for  their  early  start 
They  formed  a  picturesque  group  in  their  dark 
suits,  bright  handkerchiefs,  and  slouch  hats.  Bes- 
sie also  wore  a  dark  blue  flannel  shirt,  a  very 
short  riding-skirt,  and  a  soft  blue  felt  hat.  A 
bright  scarlet  handkerchief  was  tied  around  her 
neck,  and  through  her  hat-band,  in  true  fisherman 
fashion,  she  had  twisted  a  couple  of  leaders.  In 
her  leather  belt  she  had  a  large  bunch  of  violets, 
evidently  doomed  to  an  early  death. 

The  second  morning  after  their  start  they 
reached  a  certain  mountain  stream  where  they 
were  to  pitch  their  tents.  They  were  to  remain 
a  week,  and  every  day  one  or  two  stayed  in  to 
watch  the  camp.  The  second  day  Bessie  and 
Mrs.  Worthington  declared  their  intention  of 
staying  "  home"  for  a  rest.  Arthur  and  Waring 
volunteered  to  remain  with  them.  Arthur  had 

offered  as  soon  as  he  saw  that  Waring  intended 

67 


68  HALF  MARRIED. 

doing  so,  simply  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  Car- 
sten  away,  who  was  also  of  the  party. 

The  truce  between  these  two  was  always  on  the 
point  of  being  broken.  Waring  could  not  keep 
his  temper,  and  Carsten,  though  constantly  irri- 
tating him,  was  too  shrewd  to  give  sufficient 
cause  for  a  quarrel.  Arthur  seeing  that  he  would 
soon  make  Carsten  quarrel  and  have  the  business 
settled,  still  wanted  to  postpone  the  unpleasant 
denouement  as  long  as  possible.  Only  the  four 
were  left  in  camp.  While  Arthur  was  devoting 
himself  to  the  doctor's  wife  Waring  walked  up  to 
Bessie. 

"  Miss  Bessie,  will  you  come  with  me  for  just 
a  short  stroll  ?" 

She  was  frightened  at  his  serious  manner,  but 
knew  that  it  was  too  late  to  retreat  from  her 
position  as  friend  and  adviser.  A  few  steps 
brought  them  into  the  real  forest,  where  the 
fallen  logs  and  trees  were  covered  with  soft  green 
moss.  All  things  old,  rough,  or  ugly  were  con- 
cealed. It  was  one  of  those  beautiful  spots  only 
found  near  "trails"  in  the  real  wilderness,  never 
by  a  countiy  path,  no  matter  how  quiet  and  se- 
cluded. 


HALF  MARRIED.  69 

Waring  seated  her  on  a  mound  of  moss  with  a 
fallen  tree  for  a  support,  and,  throwing  himself 
down  by  her  side,  began  his  confession. 

"  Bessie,  I  have  something  to  tell  you,  what  it 
costs  me  you  can  never  know.  I  have  told  you 
over  and  over  again  how  much  I  love  you.  I 
love  you  better  than  all  the  world,  but  no  good 
girl  will  ever  marry  me.  If  you  ever  had  thought 
of  it  you  never  will  again,  never,  never.  Still,  I 
would  rather  not  have  you  at  all  than  not  have 
you  fair  and  square.  I  know  that  I  am  sign- 
ing my  own  death-warrant,  please  turn  your  head 
away  while  I  am  doing  it. 

"Soon  after  leaving  the  Academy  I  was  with 
some  friends  in  the  country.  We  were  at  a  little 
boarding-house,  kept  by  an  old  skinflint, — a 
woman  who  had  a  pretty  daughter.  I  was  sorry 
for  the  girl;  her  old  mother  was  snarling  and 
scolding  at  her  all  day  long,  and  I  found  after- 
wards that  the  few  thousand  dollars  that  I  was 
then  fortunate  enough  to  possess  had  been  magni- 
fied in  her  eyes  into  a  fortune.  She  was  willing  to 
let  me  have  her  daughter  on  any  terms.  I  truly 
only  intended  to  be  kind  to  the  poor  child ;  I  sup- 
pose that  it  is  foolish  to  pose  as  the  victim  of  a 


70  HALF  MARRIED. 

plot,  but  the  more  I  think  of  it  the  more  aston- 
ished I  am  at  my  own  blind  foolishness. 

"  The  old  widow,  it  was  rumored,  had  by  her 
tongue  driven  her  husband  into  the  army,  where 
he  was  killed  in  the  war.  With  the  same  weapon 
and  her  love  of  money  she  succeeded  in  driving 
her  daughter  to  her  own  and  my  destruction. 
The  bully  of  a  brother,  who  was  a  brute  to  his 
sister  always,  met  me  one  day,  fortunately  in  a 
quiet  roadway,  and  informed  me  that  he  was  going 
to  shoot  me.  I  think  now  he  had  not  the  slightest 
intention  of  doing  so  until  I  said,  '  You  are  wel- 
come; fire.'  I  stood  perfectly  still,  thinking  that 
perhaps  I  deserved  to  be  shot.  He  hurt  me  very 
slightly  on  the  shoulder ;  a  mark  something  like 
Cain's,  I  suppose :  it's  always  a  reminder.  I  was 
ordered  out  here,  leaving  the  affair  in  the  hands 
of  the  only  friend  who  knew  of  it.  Do  you 
wonder  that  I  have  been  irritable,  moody,  and 
desperate  during  these  months  of  waiting  ?  I  have 
only  just  heard  from  him.  The  girl,  probably 
without  her  mother's  knowledge,  sent  me  word 
that  she  had  forgiven  me.  My  few  thousand 
dollars  are  gone  to  them.  I  am  poorer  than  a 
beggar.  I  cannot  tell  my  mother  where  the 


HALF  MARRIED.  >jl 

money  is  gone,  it  would  kill  her.  All  the 
fellows  know  it's  gone  somewhere.  Here  I  am 
with  nothing  but  my  pay,  in  love  with  a  beautiful 
girl,  and  no  hope.  Oh,  Bessie,  every  time  I  look 
at  you  the  whole  dreadful  thing  comes  over  me 
anew.  I  am  not  complaining.  The  hardest 
thing  I  have  to  bear  is  the  knowledge  that  I 
deserve  it  all,  and  more." 

He  threw  his  arm  across  her  lap  and,  with  his 
head  on  it,  burst  into  tears.  Poor  Bessie  did  not 
know  whether  to  run  from  him  or  to.  put  her 
arms  around  him.  How  often  in  future  years, 
when  her  own  little  ones  were  weeping  out  their 
childish  griefs  at  her  knee,  did  she  remember  this 
her  first  task  of  consolation,  when  the  youthful 
transgressor  found  the  way  so  hard ! 

Oh,  how  that  girl  must  have  loved  him  to 
forgive  him !  She  imagined  she  would  have 
murdered  him  !  "  To  forgive,"  "  to  forgive,"  the 
words  seemed  to  ring  in  her  ears  and  beat  in  her 
heart.  Such  love  she  had  read  of,  but  never 
believed  in.  And  then,  too,  for  him  to  love  her 
enough  to  lose  rather  than  deceive  her.  Leaning 
over  him,  with  her  hands  on  his  curls,  she  said, — 

"  Charlie  dear,  it  is  angelic  in  her  to  forgive 


72  HALF  MARRIED. 

you.  It  is  very  brave  in  you  to  tell  me.  I  do 
not  think  I  can  quite  understand  either  of  you. 
It's  too  high  a  flight  for  my  colder  fancy  to  reach. 
In  her  place  I  could  no  more  forgive  you  than 
in  yours  I  could  stand  up  and  be  shot  at.  Oh, 
Charlie !  Don't,  don't,  it  breaks  my  heart  to  have 
you  wicked  or  unhappy  !" 

After  a  few  moments  he  said, — 

"  The  thing  is  over  at  last,  and  we  must  walk 
back.  Bessie,  you  have  been  very  merciful,"  and 
for  the  first  time  he  kissed  her  cheek.  "  They 
say  you  read  the  whole  service  every  night,  won't 
you  say  one  prayer  for  me  sometimes? — unless 
you  think  I'm  past  it." 

"  I  think  I  have  ever  since  the  first  night  I  saw 
you.  I  knew  all  the  time  that  you  were  looking 
through  the  window  at  me,  and  it  was  very  hard 
to  keep  a  straight  face  and  receive  you  with 
becoming  dignity." 

The  fishermen  all  came  in  for  an  early  supper, 
and  for  two  or  three  hours  afterwards  all  lounged 
or  smoked  around  the  camp-fire.  Bessie  heard 
none  of  the  jokes  or  stories  as  she  gazed  at  the 
glowing  flame  of  the  fire  and  the  bright  stars  in 
the  heavens. 


HALF  MARRIED,  73 

111  a  few  months  what  a  difficult  and  compli- 
cated place  hers  had  become!  It  is  easy  to  do 
right  when  one  knows  clearly  what  is  right.  But 
if  you  were  very  fond  of  a  handsome  young 
soldier,  and  knew  you  would  both  be  wretched 
if  you  married  him,  and  if  you  told  him  so,  and 
he  then  said  he  would  follow  his  inclinations  and 
go  to  the  devil,  and  you  had  every  reason  to 
believe  that  he  would,  what  ought  you  to  do? 
"Oh!  if  we  could  always  stay  this  way,"  she 
thought,  "  living  in  camps,  on  horseback,  and  in 
beautiful  woods,  and  be  always  young,  that  would 
indeed  be  happiness."  But  the  man  she  would 
marry  must  be  more  like  her  father, — upright, 
strong,  "a  very  help  in  time  of  need," — not  an 
anxiety,  a  care,  not  even  a  loving  care. 

"  FORT  DERBY, ,  187 — . 

"DEAR  MAMIE, — 

"  As  I  wrote  up  all  our  little  items  of  news  in 
my  last,  there  is  nothing  particular  to  say  to  you. 
'  The  fate'  you  prophesy  for  me  is  simply  impos- 
sible, for  Charlie  Waring  is  to  leave  here  before 
many  months  at  farthest,  and  in  all  probability  we 

will  never  see  each  other  again. 
D  7 


74 


HALF  MARRIED. 


"  We  have  just  returned  from  trouting.  You 
know  papa  is  a  great  sportsman.  You  should 
have  seen  my  costume.  It  is  all  right  here,  but 
I  often  laugh  to  myself  as  I  picture  the  sensation 
it  would  create  on  Broadway  or  the  conster- 
nation on  Chestnut  Street.  I  must  tell  you  one 
thing  that  happened. 

"  Beside  the  saddle-horses  we  had  a  small 
ambulance.  The  seats  are  sideways  and  facing 
each  other.  We  were  to  take  turns,  four  in  the 
vehicle  and  four  on  horseback ;  as  the  weather 
had  become  very  warm  and  the  moon  rose  early 
in  the  evening,  we  were  to  rest  during  the  after- 
noon and  ride  most  of  the  night.  The  second 
evening  out  we  were  called  about  eleven  o'clock 
to  resume  our  journey,  I  can  sleep  with  a 
blanket  for  a  bed  very  comfortably.  It  was  now 
time  for  the  doctor  and  Mrs.  Worthington,  Charlie 
and  me,  to  take  our  turn  in  the  ambulance ;  papa, 
Arthur,  Carsten,  and  Ursus  Major,  as  I  call  him, 
taking  the  horses. 

"  I  sat  on  the  side  with  Mrs.  Worthington,  put 
my  head  in  her  lap,  and  was  soon  comfortably 
asleep.  I  woke  up  once.  I  indistinctly  remem- 
ber that  the  doctor  was  snoring  in  the  corner 


HALF  MARRIED. 


75 


and  that  Charlie  looked  so  uncomfortable.  He 
seemed  to  be  in  such  a  strange,  bent-over  position. 

"  About  sunrise  we  reached  our  destination. 
After  breakfast  I  saw  Mrs.  Worthington  say 
something  to  Charlie.  She  is  over  forty,  but  still 
pretty,  so  attractive  and  gay,  without  trying  to 
appear  young  or  captivating,  and  has  small,  lovely 
hands.  He  flushed  up  to  the  roots  of  his  hair, 
and  then  they  both  laughed  so  hard  I  thought 
they  would  strangle.  The  more  I  asked  the 
cause  of  their  amusement  the  more  they  laughed. 
I  thought  they  were  laughing  at  me,  and  was 
really  annoyed. 

"  What  do  you  think  was  the  joke  ?  Lieuten- 
ant Waring  had  kept  wide  awake  and  in  an  un- 
comfortable position  for  hours  holding  Mrs. 
Worthington's  hand,  under  the  impression  that  it 
was  mine.  I  laughed  until  I  cried,  and  the  rest 
evidently  thought  we  three  had  gone  mad. 

"  I  told  Charlie  that  it  served  him  right  for  not 
knowing  my  number  six  and  a  quarter  from  Mrs. 
Worthington's  number  five.  Mrs.  Worthington 
said  that  she  would  press  his  hand  very  gently, 
and,  though  she  is  a  great  sleepy-head,  would 
not  have  missed  the  fun  for  any  amount  of  rest, 


76 


HALF  MARRIED. 


and  that  if  he  is  not  her  obedient  slave  henceforth 
she  will  publish  his  discomfiture  far  and  wide. 
I  shall  tease  him  awfully  about  it  when  he  gets 
into  a  sentimental  vein.  This  is  enough  nonsense 
for  one  letter.  We  are  going  off  for  a  little  visit 
to  Fort  Granger.  You  know  there  is  quite  a 
town  there,  and  we  are  actually  going  to  have  a 
german.  The  march  (or  dance)  of  civilization 
and  progress  is  truly  wonderful,  is  it  not  ? 

"  Affectionately, 

"  BESSIE." 

In  a  fortnight  the  same  party  set  off  for  Fort 
Granger.  The  general  had  to  go,  and  during  the 
summer  he  always  found  plenty  of  volunteers  to 
accompany  him.  They  were  to  stay  a  few  days, 
have  a  "  good  time,"  and,  if  possible,  induce  some 
of  their  neighbors  to  return  with  them,  so  that  the 
aforesaid  good  time  might  be  prolonged. 

Arthur  was  not  to  go,  so  Bessie  found  her 
position  between  her  two  quarrelsome  admirers 
particularly  difficult.  She  knew  that  Carsten's 
attention  was  more  for  the  purpose  of  enraging 
Waring  than  of  pleasing  her,  and  his  amiable  ef- 
forts were  crowned  with  success.  Bessie  begged 


HALF  MARRIED. 


77 


Waring  for  just  this  once  to  keep  himself  in 
the  background.  He  did  so,  but  with  a  conspicu- 
ously bad  grace. 

The  grand  affair  was  to  be  on  the  second 
evening  after  their  arrival,  and  she  had  promised 
to  dance  the  german  with  Waring.  The  favors 
were  quite  unique,  among  them^a  number  of  little 
snow-shoes,  canoes,  paddles,  etc.,  made  by  an  old 
Indian.  The  large  barracks  were  cleared  and 
decorated;  flags,  bayonets,  and  sabres  making  a 
gay  and  military  appearance.  The  entire  com- 
munity was  excited  over  this  social  event,  and  the 
Eastern  belles  were  quite  carried  away  with  its 
novelty.  Bessie's  experience  we  will  give  in  her 
own  words  in  a  hurried  letter  to  Arthur  : 

"  MY  DEAR  FRIEND, — 

"  I  am  truly  in  an  awful  scrape,  and  you  are 
the  only  one  I  can  think  of  to  help  me  out.  I 
shall  have  to  go  way  back  to  make  you  under- 
stand it. 

"  I  told  Mr.  Waring  if  he  would  not  devote 
himself  to  me  beforehand  I  would  dance  the  ger- 
man with  him.  He  did  as  I  requested,  but  in  a 

way  that  plainly  showed  he  was  ill-natured  over 

7* 


^8  HALF  MARRIED. 

it.  Several  times  it  unfortunately  happened  that 
I  had  to  choose  between  him  and  Mr.  Carsten.  I 
was  as  impartial  as  I  knew  how  to  be,  but  every 
time  that  I  chose  Mr.  Carsten,  Mr.  Waring  plainly 
showed  his  rage,  and  I  knew  that  mischief  would 
come  out  of  it.  After  the  dreadful  thing  was 
over,  I  was  walking  with  Mr.  Waring, — who  was 
jealous  as  a  Turk  and  cross  as  a  grizzly, — when 
Mr.  Carsten  came  up  to  us,  and  in  an  impudent 
way — that  he  never  would  have  dared  had  I  been 
with  you  or  my  father — asked  me  to  walk  into  the 
supper-room  and  have  some  iced  punch.  I  was 
going  to  decline  politely,  but  Mr.  Waring  broke 
in  with, — he  was  past  the  red  heat :  he  was  white 
and  cool, — '  Mr.  Carsten,  you  have  evidently  been 
appreciating  the  punch;  Miss  Lansing  will  stay 
where  she  is.' 

"  There  was  something  said  about  being  '  found 
in  the  mess-room.'  I  was  frightened  to  death, 
and  don't  know  just  what  they  did  say.  Mr. 
Waring  left  me  with  Mrs.  Worthington.  He  did 
not  say  a  word,  and  I  have  not  seen  him  since. 
I  don't  know  anything  about  such  dreadful  things  ; 
I  only  know  that  if  they  are  foolish  enough  to 
fight,  I  am  ruined  in  the  sight  of  all  my  friends. 


HALF  MARRIED. 


79 


I  do  not  think  the  trouble  was  noticed.  We  hap- 
pened to  be  a  little  apart  from  the  rest  of  the 
promenaders,  and  the  band  was  still  playing. 

"  As  some  of  the  '  Grangers'  are  going  home 
with  us,  and  papa  will  have  company  for  them,  I 
will  have  no  opportunity  of  .seeing  you,  so  I  have 
written  this,  and  if  I  have  a  chance  will  send  it  on 
ahead.  You  see  it  is  a  serious  matter  to  be  my 
friend.  I  dare  not  speak  to  my  father  about  it. 
He  would  never,  never  forgive  me  for  being  in 
any  way  connected  with  a  thing  so  disgraceful. 
I  am  very  unhappy,  what  can  I  do? 

"  Yours  in  perplexity, 

"  B.  L." 

At  the  same  time  she  sent  a  short  note  to 
Waring : 

"DEAR  CHARLIE," — she  thought  that  "dear" 
might  have  some  effect, — "  I  beg  you  will  do 
nothing  about  that  affair  with  Mr.  C.  until  we 
return  to  Fort  Derby. 

"  B." 

Waring  wrote  to  Arthur,  who  received  his  and 


80  HALF  MARRIED. 

Bessie's  letters  a  few  hours  before  the  arrival  of 
the  parties  concerned : 

DEAR  ARTHUR, — 

"At  last  I  have  got  the  chance  that  I  have 
been  waiting  for  for  months, — namely,  to  blow 
Carsten's  few  brains  out ;  will  you  be  a  good 
fellow  and  stand  by  me  ? 

"  C.  W." 

The  party  with  their  guests  reached  Fort 
Derby  at  the  time  expected.  Arthur  was  bent  on 
having  the  meeting  prevented,  but  knowing  the 
temper  of  the  two  men  concerned,  he  knew  that 
Bessie's  intervention  alone  could  stop  it.  Never- 
theless he  saw  Waring ;  he  argued,  he  threatened, 
he  pled  and  reasoned  with  him,  but  nothing 
would  induce  him  to  change  his  purpose.  He 
replied  to  Arthur's  crowning  objection,  that  Bes- 
sie's name  would  be  made  disagreeably  if  not 
scandalously  conspicuous,  that  "  that  idea  was  all 
nonsense,  as  the  quarrel  would  be  put  on  other 
grounds." 

Arthur,  out  of  patience  and  at  his  wits'  end,  and 
knowing  the  general's  house  to  be  too  full  of 


HALF  MARRIED.  8 1 

company  for  any  chance  of  getting  a  word  with 
Bessie,  wrote  to  her : 


"DEAR  Miss  BESSIE, — 

"That  young  beggar  won't  listen  to  reason. 
You  are  the  only  one  who  can  do  anything.  If 
necessary  be  engaged  to  him,  and  when  this  mat- 
ter cools  down  break  it  off.  Do  anything  to 
ward  this  off  for  the  present.  C.'s  friend  is  ready 
to  compromise,  but  the  ill  feeling  dates  so  far 
back  neither  principal  will  hear  of  an  arrange- 
ment. 

"  I  will  do  my  endeavor,  and  let  you  know  if 
things  take  a  more  favorable  turn. 

"  Sincerely, 

"  M.  A." 

Though  Bessie  was  distressed  and  alarmed,  she 
could  not  help  seeing  the  ridiculous  side  of  af- 
fairs, and  when  the  pretty  Eastern  damsel,  who 
rather  prided  herself  upon  being  a  desperate  flirt, 
openly  declared  to  Bessie  that  she  was  going  to 
lay  siege  to  Waring,  and  further  remarked  that 
she  was  "  ready  to  fall  down  and  adore  his  pretty 


82  HALF  MARRIED. 

little  feet,"  Bessie  with  difficulty  kept  from  smil- 
ing, and  could  hardly  refrain  from  running  over 
to  Mrs.  Worthington's,  telling  of  the  impending 
social  explosion,  and  having  one  more  laugh 
before  the  final  tragedy. 

The  evening  after  their  arrival  at  home  the 
general's  little  entertainment  was  to  come  off. 
Bessie  grew  almost  desperate  as  the  time  passed 
without  her  having  a  chance  to  speak  to  Waring. 
He  knew  well  enough  when  it  was  to  his  advan- 
tage to  keep  away.  She  sent  word  to  Arthur 
that  he  must  arrange  to  have  both  Waring  and 
Carsten  at  her  father's  that  night,  then  at  all 
hazards  she  would  arrange  the  rest. 

They  both  came.  "  Yes,"  said  Bessie  to  herself, 
"two  skeletons  at  the  feast  is  more  than  my 
share."  Both  "  skeletons"  avoided  her. 

It  was  late,  and  she  had  not  yet  had  a  word 
with  Waring.  At  last  she  managed  to  signal  to 
him  across  the  room.  He  came  to  her  immedi- 
ately. She  said,  in  an  undertone, — 

"  I  must  see  you  alone  to-night  at  any  cost.  If 
there  is  no  other  way,  when  the  lights  are  out 
swing  yourself  up  on  the  veranda  roof  and  wait 
outside  my  front  window.  For  mercy  sake  be 


HALF  MARRIED.  83 

quiet  and  don't  let  the  sentry  see  you.  Go  back 
now." 

The  guests  departed,  her  father  went  up-stairs, 
and,  after  arranging  her  household  matters  so  they 
would  not  look  utterly  hopeless  in  the  near  morn- 
ing, with  icy  hands  and  trembling  limbs  she  went 
to  her  own  room.  She  did  not  dare  light  her 
lamp,  thinking  Waring  might  be  already  at  his 
post ;  but  the  moon  shone  brightly,  and  through 
the  open  window  she  saw  that  she  was  alone. 

She  sat  there  waiting,  knowing  perfectly  well 
what  an  awful  risk  she  was  taking.  If  the  duel 
came  off  she  felt  she  would  be  hopelessly  com- 
promised. Her  father  never  would  forgive  her; 
and  if  either  were  shot — but  that  she  could  not 
think  of.  If  any  one  saw  Waring  coming  to  her 
window  that  night — well,  she  would  have  to  marry 
him,  live  in  poverty,  and  perhaps,  worse  than  all, 
grow  to  hate  him. 

It  is  not,  as  generally  supposed,  the  sudden 
knowledge  or  discovery  of  sin  that  makes  the 
young  older  or  more  worldly  wise.  That  knowl- 
edge, like  all  other,  comes  by  degrees.  But  it  is 
when  they  first  awaken  to  the  fact  that  they  them- 
selves are  liable  to  be  judged  by  that  false  standard 


84  HALF  MARRIED. 

of  the  world,  "  appearances,"  they  start  back  hor- 
rified before  their  possible  censors. 

Bessie  was  overcome  with  horror  at  her  own 
deception,  but  she  was  playing  for  a  couple  of 
lives,  and  perhaps  a  soul,  too.  If  the  stake  is 
high,  so  must  the  risk  be  great.  She  heard  the 
sentry  walk  down  the  path.  The  moon  kindly 
hid  her  light  under  a  cloud,  Waring  swung  him- 
self on  the  roof,  and  was  in  a  moment  seated 
outside  of  the  window  as  arranged. 

"  Bessie  dear,  here  I  am." 

"  Yes,  and  you  must  promise  me  that  this — you 
know  what  I  mean — shall  go  no  further.  If  it 
would  be  of  any  use,  I  would  say  let  it  stop  for 
your  own  sake,  but  I  shall  have  to  be  selfish  and 
ask  you  to  do  so  for  mine.  See  what  a  risk  I 
have  taken.  But  in  truth,  I  would  rather  have 
you  seen  leaving  me  here  at  this  hour  than  have 
you  raise  your  hand  in  such  a  foolish  and  useless 
quarrel.  I  assure  you  that  if  you  are  seen  to- 
night, it  will  be  no  worse  for  me  than  it  will  be 
if  this  miserable  thing  takes  place.  As  I  cannot 
accept  your  love,  I  cannot  appeal  to  it.  I  can 
only  beg  you  to  be  generous  to  me  and  apologize 
to  Mr.  Carsten  for  your  rude  speech  to  him." 


HALF  MARRIED.  85 

"  Never,  never!  And  he  would  not  accept  it:  he 
would  call  me  a  coward.  I  would  be  a  marked 
man  before  the  whole  army." 

"  Very  well.  It  is  better,  then,  that  I  should  be 
a  marked  woman  before  the  whole  world.  I  hear 
that  it  is  to  be  at  noon  to-morrow  ?  Just  call  the 
sentry  to  help  you  down,  man  enfant !  That  will 
make  the  whole  thing  consistent.  And  to-morrow, 
when  you  are  dead,  wounded,  or,  worse  yet,  miss- 
ing, my  position  will  be  assured  if  not  enviable." 

Waring  put  his  hand  over  his  face,  and,  after  a 
few  moments'  pause,  said, — 

"  Bessie,  this  is  the  hardest  cut  yet.  I  will 
apologize,  but  only  for  your  sake,  and  he  will  not 
accept  it." 

"  Lieutenant  Carsten  will  listen  to  you,  that  I 
am  sure  of.  Now  you  must  go.  You  are  a  dear 
boy  after  all." 

He  detached  a  little  pin  from  the  lace  around 
her  throat,  the  little  bayonet  with  the  ruby  heart 
on  its  point,  and  leaned  over  to  kiss  "his  dear 
sweetheart." 

"  Oh,  no,  no,  Charlie ;  not  here,  not  here." 

"  To-morrow,  darling  ?" 

"  You  have  been  very  good ;  yes,  to-morrow." 


86  HALF  MARRIED. 

"To-morrow,  Bessie,  and  to-morrow." 
As  the  sentry  paced  his  beat  and  chaste  Luna 
hid  her  shining  head  from  these  improper  pro- 
ceedings, which  we   fear  the   less   chaste   sentry 
would  not  have  done  had  he  "  suspicioned"  them, 
Waring  dropped  lightly  and  safely  to  the  ground. 
Bessie    gave   a   sigh    of  relief.      "  Now   for   Mr. 
.  Carsten.     He  little  knows  the  surprise  I  have  laid 
up  to  keep  him  in  order." 

She  wrote  a  note  to  Arthur,  which  she  would 
send  as  early  as  possible,  telling  of  her  success 
with  Waring,  and  enclosing  one  in  it  for  Carsten, 
which  ran  thus : 

"  LIEUTENANT  CARSTEN, — 

"Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  call  on  me  to- 
day as  early  as  possible,  certainly  before  noon? 
It  will  oblige  me  very  much. 

"  I  am,  very  truly, 

"BESSIE  LANSING." 

Bessie  rose  bright  and  early  after  her  brief  and 
uneasy  slumbers,  and  the  notes  were  despatched. 
Like  all  very  young  people  passing  through  the 
first  great  crisis  of  their  lives,  she  was  almost  sur- 


HALF  MARRIED.  g/ 

prised  to  awake  and  find  all  things  as  they  were 
the  night  before.  If  her  intercession  and  schemes 
had  failed,  how  different  the  world  would  have 
appeared  !  at  least  to  her  on  that  beautiful  summer 
morning. 

How  little  we  know  of  the  slumbering  vol- 
canoes under  our  friends'  feet,  and  what  a  sur- 
prisingly slight  acquaintance  they  have  with  the 
"  skeleton  in  our  closet,"  though  he  is  grinning  at 
us  through  the  door  ajar,  and  deafening  us  with 
a  devil's  tattoo,  played  no  doubt  with  his  shin- 
bones  !  Our  friends,  thank  heaven,  neither  see 
nor  hear  him,  and  we  gladly  persuade  ourselves 
that  these  disagreeable  manifestations  are  only 
apparent  to  our  over-sensitive  perceptions,  and 
that  he  is  not  such  a  bad  skeleton  after  all. 

A  Connecticut  lawyer  remarked  to  his  wife, 
who,  after  commenting  on  the  unfortunate  pub- 
licity given  to  a  certain  family's  private  affairs, 
ended  her  little  speech  by  saying,  "  Yes,  but  nearly 
every  one  has  a  skeleton  in  his  closet,"  "  My 
dear,  I  know  that,  but  these  people  trot  theirs  out 
on  the  front  steps." 

Happy  the  man  who  keeps  his  under  lock 
and  key. 


88  HALF  MARRIED. 

As  in  duty  bound,  Carsten  obeyed  Bessie's  sum- 
mons. Undaunted,  Bessie  stood  in  the  parlor 
before  him. 

"  Mr.  Carsten,  I  am  sorry  to  trouble  you ;  I  am 
going  to  ask  you  to  do  me  a  great  favor.  Will 
you  accept  Lieutenant  Waring's  apology  which 
he  will  make  to  you  to-day  ?" 

"  Ah,  is  that  the  way  the  land  lies  ?  What  is 
the  price  you  offer  for  his  pretty  head  delivered 
safe  and  sound  ?" 

Only  the  knowledge  that  she  had  the  game  in 
her  own  hands  enabled  her  to  control  her  rage  at 
this  man's  vindictiveness. 

"  I  will  be  ever  grateful  to  you,  that  is  all." 

"  As  you  have  no  other  price  to  pay  for  your 
lover " 

"  What  did  you  say,  sir  ?" 

"  For  Lieutenant  Waring.  I  tell  you  plainly  that 
I  will  not  accept  his  apology  made  through  your 
influence  to  save  his  skin.  I  will  publish  him  as 
a  coward,  and  that  will  ruin  him." 

"  Then  I  am  to  understand  that  you  positively 
refuse  to  do  as  I  ask  ?" 

"  Yes,  most  distinctly  and  decidedly  I  do." 

"  Mr.  Carsten,  it  is  my  turn  now.     Please  listen 


HALF  MARRIED. 


89 


to  me.  Some  years  ago,  during  one  of  my  vaca- 
tions, I  was  staying  with  a  lady  who  was  the 
daughter  of  an  army  officer.  One  day  she 
brought  down  from  the  garret  an  old  newspaper, 
and  for  curiosity  we  all  looked  over  it.  It  was  an 
old  Newburyport  Gazette.  Among  other  notices 
was  one  that  read  something  like  this : 

« '  BEWARE. 

"  'All  persons  beware  of  harboring  Lucretia  Holmes,  a  bound 
girl,  who  has  run  away  from  Dr.  Thomas  Currie,  U.S.A.' 

Then  my  friends  told  me  how  this  girl  was  strongly 
suspected  of  burning  down  her  father's  house  and 
causing  the  death  of  a  child,  whose  death  was 
sudden  and  mysterious.  The  paper  they  gave  to 
me.  I  still  have  it,  as  it  contains  the  death  notice 
of  a  great-aunt  of  mine." 

"  Well,  Miss  Lansing,  I  do  not  see  how  I  am 
affected  by  this  very  interesting  recital." 

"  Wait  a  moment.  Two  days  after  this  a  gentle- 
man's card  was  sent  in  to  my  friend.  '  William  S. 
Carsten'  was  the  name.  As  my  hostess  entered 
the  room  he  said,  '  I  beg  your  pardon,  madam  ; 
I  have  come  to  make  inquiries  after  Lucretia 

Holmes,   an    adopted    daughter   of   your   father, 

8* 


CjQ  HALF  MARRIED. 

Dr.  Currie,  of  the  army.'  My  friend,  too  hasty 
to  ask  questions,  and  too  amazed  to  even  think, 
caught  up  the  paper  that  had  been  laid  for  safety 
in  a  table-drawer  and  read  the  notice. 

"  The  man,  she  told  us,  seemed  perfectly  dazed 
and  withdrew  without  a  word.  Soon  after  we  saw 
among  the  list  of  graduates  at  West  Point  the 
name  of  William  S.  Carsten,  Jr.  You  have  called 
my  mother  a  '  rebel.'  I  can  call  yours  or  your 
grandmother  a  bound  girl  and  a  criminal,  and  I 
have  had  occasion  to  call  you  a  coward  to  your 
face.  It  is  my  turn  now  to  threaten.  If  you 
dare  touch  Lieutenant  Waring,  if  you  dare  call 
him  my  lover  until  I  authorize  you  to  do  so,  I 
will  publish  to  the  world  this  little  bit  of  your 
family  history." 

Bessie  fairly  glared  at  her  adversary  as  she 
stood  directly  in  front  of  him  delivering  this 
lecture. 

Nothing  is  more  astonishing  to  a  gentleman,  or 
a  man  who  has  lived  among  gentlemen,  than  the 
honest  anger  and  indignation  of  a  woman.  Car- 
sten was  frightened  at  Bessie's  vehemence,  and 
being  a  slow  thinker,  her  quick  sharp  recital  left 
him  in  a  dazed  state,  and  for  a  moment  without  a 


HALF  MARRIED.  ^ 

word  to  say.  Two  thoughts  only  came  to  his 
mind.  The  first  was,  "  She  looks  as  if  she  would 
murder  me  if  she  dared."  He  turned  white  as  he 
put  the  other  in  words  and  hardly  breathed  as  he 
said, — 

"  Miss  Lansing,  Waring  knows  all  of  this,  of 
course  ?" 

"Certainly  not.  No  one,  not  even  my  father; 
and  no  one  ever  shall  from  me  if  you  accept 
Lieutenant  Waring's  apology  and  stop  irritating 
him.  You  care  nothing  for  me.  You  are  atten- 
tive to  me  only  to  annoy  him." 

During  the  pause  which  followed,  Carsten 
thought  henceforth  he  would  as  soon  take  liber- 
ties with  a  Gatling-gun  as  attempt  a  flirtation  with 
this  terrible  young  lady.  With  an  expression  of 
relief  he  said, — 

"  Miss  Lansing,  you  have  let  me  off  very  easy. 
I  did  not  suppose  that  any  one  was  so  generous." 

"  The  world  generally  pays  us  off  in  our  own 
coin.  I  never  would  have  used  this  knowledge 
for  my  own  benefit,  never — never." 

"  Well,  I  shall  try  to  profit  by  a  noble  example. 
I  shall  never  annoy  you  again;  will  you  shake 
hands  with  me  before  I  bid  farewell  to  you  ?" 


92  HALF  MARRIED. 

"  There  is  no  reason  why  you  should  say  fare- 
well. You  will  do  me  a  favor  and  I  will  keep 
your  secret  always.  We  may  be  better  friends 
than  we  were  before.  Good-morning." 

As  she  watched  Carsten's  retreating  figure  she 
saw  Arthur  approaching.  He  sat  down  on  the 
shady  porch,  and  Bessie  told  him  that  the  whole 
matter  was  satisfactorily  arranged,  and  that  she 
had  been  so  worried  she  was  "  most  dead."  The 
apology  was  duly  given,  and  received  cordially, 
and  in  the  course  of  a  few  days  the  whole  com- 
munity was  astonished  at  the  politeness  and  good 
nature  that  had  seized  Carsten.  Like  many  men 
born  "  under  a  cloud,"  he  felt  that  for  no  fault  of 
his  the  world  was  against  him,  and  was  always 
ready  to  feel  slights  and  smarts  where  none  were 
intended.  That  monster  of  wickedness,  the 
"world,"  had  for  once  treated  him  even  better 
than  he  deserved,  and  he  now  had  some  hopes 
for  it  as  well  as  for  himself. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  summer  every- 
thing went  on  without  jarring.  Arthur  told  Bes- 
sie "  all  the  fellows  thought  Carsten  was  going  to 
die  or  had  come  into  a  fortune,  he  was  so  devilish 
good-natured." 


HALF  MARRIED, 


Waring  was  quite  subdued;  as  Bessie  had  al- 
ways the  same  answer  he  began  to  fear  that  his 
case  was  hopeless,  but  he  would  persevere  to  the 
sweet  or  bitter  end  as  the  case  might  be. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

THE  autumn  passed  gayly  with  its  walks,  rides, 
and  excursions,  and  only  too  soon  winter  came. 
Bessie  was  trying  to  make  up  her  mind  to  tell 
Waring  that  he  must  arrange  to  be  ordered  off 
or  exchanged  into  another  regiment.  It  was  not 
fair  to  let  him  stay  on  this  way,  wasting  his  time. 
It  was  not  manly  in  him.  If  he  had  not  suffi- 
cient strength  of  character  to  go — well,  she  had 
enough  to  make  him,  that  was  all.  As  he  had 
been  most  exemplary  in  every  way  for  a  year, 
surely  he  could  be  trusted  alone  now.  It  was 
very  pleasant  to  have  him,  very,  very,  but  it  must 
end,  and  now  the  sooner  the  better.  How  often 
when  we  are  planning  our  little  campaigns  does 
the  Great  Commander  of  all  forces  send  us  to 
the  right  about  and  take  the  directing  of  matters 
into  His  own  hands ! 

While  Bessie  was  getting  up  her  courage  for 

her  hard  duty,  the  general  caught  a  severe  cold. 
94 


HALF  MARRIED.  95 

A  bullet  in  his  shoulder — his  "  souvenir"  he 
called  it — aggravated  his  malady.  He  was  des- 
perately ill  a  few  weeks,  died,  and  was  buried. 
Not  in  the  city  of  his  fathers,  but,  like  many 
soldiers,  far  away  from  birthplace,  early  friends, 
and  family.  One  bitter  day,  in  wind  and  storm, 
with  the  honors  of  war,  he  was  laid  to  rest.  A 
just  man,  who  had  never  knowingly  turned  his 
back  on  a  foe,  a  friend,  or  a  duty. 

Now  the  general's  wisdom  in  bringing  up  his 
daughter  as  he  had  showed  itself.  All  her  girl- 
hood he  had  looked  to  just  this  possibility.  He 
had  tacitly  given  her  to  understand  that  she  was 
at  liberty  to  do — within  reason,  of  course — just 
what  she  chose,  provided  she  was  ready  to  suf- 
fer the  consequences  without  murmuring.  In  a 
measure  he  made  her  regard  life  from  a  man's 
stand-point,  and  as  he  tried  to  impress  upon  her 
life's  possibilities,  he  endeavored  to  fit  her  to  meet 
them.  He  frequently  said,  "  What  a  detestable 
set  are  these  helpless  people !  They  have  to  be 
dragged  and  carried  through  life,  and  when  one  is 
dragging  them  with  might  and  main,  they  put  on 
the  air  of  sainted  martyrs,  instead  of  looking  like 
the  confounded  nuisances  they  are." 


96 


HALF  MARRIED. 


"Bessie,  I  would  rather  you  were  a — a — a— 
circus-rider  than " 

"  Yes,  papa,  with  spangles  and  a  paper  hoop." 

After  the  funeral  Dr.  Worthington  and  a  couple 
of  the  other  officers  came  to  the  general's  library. 
Bessie  gave  them  his  keys  and  requested  that 
they  would  examine  his  papers,  and  after  all  the 
business  and  military  communications  were  placed 
in  the  proper  hands  she  would  give  her  attention 
to  the  private  matters. 

This  terrible  visitation  had  been  so  unlocked 
for,  she  was  dull  and  stupefied.  She  was  quiet, 
could  talk  calmly  with  her  advisers,  but  when  the 
outward  stimulus  was  removed,  felt  overwhelmed 
with  the  isolation  and  loneliness  of  her  position. 

In  a  few  days  old  Lucy  came  to  her  room  to 
say  that  the  doctor  wanted  to  see  her.  He  had 
come  to  say  that  the  general's  life  insurance  was 
so  and  so.  There  was  a  small  amount  in  this 
and  that  investment.  She  was  just  twenty,  and 
he  could  arrange  so  that  she  would  "get  on" 
until  her  majority.  He  then  told  her  as  delicately 
as  he  could  that  she  must  soon  make  some 
definite  arrangements.  His  wife  would  be  happy 
to  have  her  with  them,  etc.,  etc. 


HALF  MARRIED.  yj 

How  she  dreaded  the  breaking  up!  She  had 
absolutely  no  claim  upon  any  one.  Of  her 
mother's  friends  she  knew  but  the  name.  Her 
father  was  an  only  child  and  had  left  his  home 
when  a  boy ;  his  parents  had  died  years  before. 

Bessie  was  twenty  years  old,  with  money 
enough  to  be  comfortable,  and  was  alarmingly 
free  and  untrammelled. 

She  thanked  the  doctor  for  his  kind  offers,  but 
told  him  that  as  no  one  would  be  sent  to  fill  her 
father's  place  immediately,  she  would  remain  in 
her  own  house  and  "take  a  week  or  two  to 
think." 

She  had  written  immediately  to  her  friend 
Mamie  of  her 'father's  death,  and  now  hoped  fer- 
vently that  she  would  write  for  her  to  come  to 
her. 

In  as  short  a  time  as  the  letter  could  be  sent 
and  answered,  Bessie  received  the  longed-for  in- 
vitation. Mamie  and  Mamie's  husband  insisted 
that  she  should  "  come  East,"  stay  with  them,  and 
then  at  their  leisure  her  future  plans  could  be 
arranged.  She  wrote  that  she  was  only  too  grati- 
fied for  their  goodness,  and  that  in  the  course 
of  six  weeks  they  would  see  her  and  Lucy,  for 
=  9  9 


98 


HALF  MARRIED. 


whom  she  hoped  they  would  find  a  comfortable 
lodgment. 

All  this  time  Waring  was  constantly  with  Bes- 
sie. He  expected  his  orders  any  moment,  but 
he  had  made  her  promise  that  she  would  not 
leave  until  after  he  had. 

All  the  joy  of  her  life  was  departing.  While 
the  last  glimmer  of  light  remained  she  deter- 
mined, almost  savagely,  to  enjoy  it.  Wasn't  the 
future  dark  and  lonesome  enough  ? 

Mrs.  Worthington  gently  suggested  that  she 
and  black  Lucy  should  stay  with  her.  Bessie 
knew  that  it  was  on  Waring's  account.  She  said 
quietly,  but  decidedly,  to  Mrs.  Worthington, 
"  No,  thank  you ;  I  shall  not  leave  the  old  house 
till  I  leave  it  forever;"  but  said  fiercely  to  herself, 
"  No  one  on  earth  shall  cheat  me  out  of  the  few 
weeks  of  happiness  left  to  me ;  I'll  be  wretched 
enough  to  make  up." 

Though  Waring  had  repeatedly  been  com- 
manded to  "  have  no  hope,"  he  almost  thought  at 
times  that  he  was  gaining  ground.  Bessie  no 
longer  concealed  her  pleasure  at  his  coming,  no 
longer  read  or  wrote  during  his  constant  visits. 

He  sat  in  his  favorite  place  on  the  deer-skin  in 


HALF  MARRIED.  99 

front  of  the  wood  fire  leaning  against  her  chair, 
sometimes  with  his  curly  head  in  her  lap.  She 
was  too  tired  out  to  resist  his  entreaties  any 
longer.  She  was  responsible  to  no  one  for 
broken  conventionalities.  She  had  honestly 
warned  him  of  his  danger,  and  now,  che  sara 
sara.  The  world  looked  dark,  and  for  the  first 
time  in  her  life  she  felt  rebellious. 

Time  went  swiftly  by,  and  it  came  Waring's  last 
day  at  the  post.  He  had  declined  all  offers  of 
"  send-offs,"  suppers,  etc.  Every  one  knew  why, 
that  his  last  evening  might  be  spent  with  "his 
sweetheart."  He  entered  the  general's  quarters 
for  the  last  time.  He  and  Bessie  sat  silently 
in  the  old  place,  both  thinking  of  the  first  time 
they  had  met  there  and  knowing  this  was  the  last. 
Quite  suddenly  he  looked  up  at  her  and  said, — 

"  Bessie,  now  that  I'm  going  away,  won't  you 
give  me  a  send-off?  Read  the  Evening  Service 
to  me — I'll  be  very  still,  and  you  don't  know  but 
what  it  may  do  me  some  good — out  of  your  old 
Prayer  Book, — the  one  that  you  take  everywhere 
with  you.  We  will  come  over  here  to  the 
lounge." 

Bessie  said,  "  Why,  yes,"  and  managed  to  keep 


100 


HALF  MARRIED. 


back  the  tears,  as  with  forced  composure  she  read 
as  he  had  asked.  The  Psalter  ended,  "  Oh  tarry 
thou  the  Lord's  leisure,  be  strong  and  He  shall 
comfort  thine  heart."  Bessie  felt  a  hopeless  fore- 
boding that  it  would  be  a  long  time  before  their 
hearts  would  be  comforted. 

"  Bessie,  I  believe  parsons  give  the  book  they 
marry  people  out  of  to  the  bride ;  won't  you  give 
me  the  one  I  have  been  buried  out  of?" 

"  Charlie,  you  must  not  talk  so." 

"  Will  you  give  it  to  me  ?" 

"Yes." 

"  Before  I  go  make  me  one  promise." 

"  Oh,  Charlie,  please  don't." 

"  It  will  not  hurt  you ;  it  is  this.  That  you  will 
not  marry  any  one  within  two  years ;  that  you 
will  wait  that  long  for  me." 

After  a  moment's  pause,  she  said, — 

"  I  would  rather  not,  but  will  on  these  condi- 
tions,— but  you  know  it  will  do  no  good, — 
you  are  not  to  write  to  me  or  expect  me  to  write 
to  you,  and  that  if  you  are  fortunate  enough" 
(here  her  voice  almost  broke)  "  to  find  any  one 
who  can  take  my  place  in  your  heart,  you  will  do 
so,  only  let  me  know." 


HALF  MARRIED.  IOI 

"You  are  always  very  generous,  but  in  this 
case  your  generosity  is  unnecessary.  Oh,  Bessie, 
why  can't  you  love  me  ?" 

He  took  her  right  hand,  put  her  arm  round  his 
neck,  laid  his  head  on  her  shoulder,  and  told  her 
again  and  again  that  he  loved  her  more  than  all 
the  world,  and  that  some  time  she  would  under- 
stand what  love  meant  and  at  least  remember 
him. 

They  sat  there  silently  for  a  long  time  :  the  fire 
burned  low  and  threw  its  faint  red  light  over  the 
familiar  room,  and  the  old  clock  ticked  off  the 
few  remaining  moments  that  they  had  left  to  be 
together.  As  the  usual  hour  came  for  leaving, 
Waring  vowed  that  he  would  not  go ;  if  she  had 
spoken  truth,  it  was  his  last  hour  of  happiness  on 
earth.  She  finally  had  to  plead,  coax,  and  insist 
upon  his  leaving, — yes,  she  would  kiss  him  good- 
by,  but  he  must  go. 

As  he  rose  to  take  his  departure,  she  said, 
impulsively, — 

"  Charlie,  it  is  selfish  and  wrong,  but  I  arn 
going  off  all  alone,  and  tell  me  only  once  again 
that  you  love  me ;  I  may  never  hear  it  from  any 
one  again.  I  must  never  again  from  you." 


1O2  HALF  MARRIED. 

He  said,  "  Bessie,  I  love  you,  and  it  is  forever.' 
He  caught  her  in  his  arms,  held  her  for  a  few 
moments  as  if  he  would  never  release  her,  kissed 
her,  and  as  his  voice  broke  into  a  sob,  abruptly 
let  her  go  and  went  out  of  the  house  for  the  last 
time.  Bessie  then  threw  herself  on  her  knees  by 
the  old  lounge,  her  face  buried  in  the  pillow  so 
often  pressed  by  the  head  of  her  handsome  young 
lover,  and  gave  herself  up  to  an  agony  of  tears 
and  misery. 

The  next  morning  she  and  some  others  were 
up  before  the  sun  to  see  the  detachment  off. 
Waring  rode  up  to  the  porch, — the  old  rendezvous 
of  happier  days, — where  his  friends  were  walking 
briskly  up  and  down  to  keep  warm.  He  looked 
very  pale  and  very  determined ;  his  whole  expres- 
sion had  changed  since  the  night  before. 

He  shook  hands  with  them  all,  leaving  Bessie 
till  the  last.  He  said  very  softly  to  her,  "  Thou 
art  life  and  light  to  me,  adios  /"  When  he  added 
the  formal  good-by,  she  said,  "  God  bless  you  ! — 
farewell."  Then  swinging  himself  lightly  into 
the  saddle,  he  rode  away  without  looking  back. 
The  sun  broke  suddenly  through  the  gray  morn- 
ing clouds,  making  the  snowy  plain  a  field  of 


HALF  MARRIED. 


103 


glory,  and  in  a  flood  of  golden  light  our  young 
soldier  galloped  away  to  other  scenes  and  other 
duties. 

Bessie  insisted  that  her  friends  should  come  in 
to  breakfast.  There  were  Mrs.  Worthington,  the 
doctor,  Arthur,  and  the  major.  It  was  the  last 
time  she  could  entertain  them,  as  that  day  she 
began  packing  up. 

The  breakfast  was  despatched  with  cheerfulness, 
if  not  with  the  old  jollity.  Bessie  wanted  her 
friends  to  remember  the  house  as  it  used  to  be,  and 
so  kept  her  spirits  up.  After  breakfast,  it  being 
very  early,  the  gentlemen  took  their  cigars  in 
the  parlor  while  Bessie  and  Mrs.  Worthington  at- 
tended to  the  hanging  of  the  old  kettle.  They 
drank  to  Waring's  good  fortune,  and  then,  at 
Bessie's  request,  to  her  father's  memory.  After 
having  made  Bessie  many  offers  of  assistance, 
they  dispersed  to  their  various  duties.  Before  the 
packing  was  begun  Bessie  sent  for  her  horse,  to 
have  a  ride  in  the  cold,  keen  air.  She  needed  some- 
thing to  compose  her  before  her  labors  began. 

She  carried  with  her  a  peculiar  and  awkward- 
looking  bundle.  After  a  ride  of  a  few  miles  up 
the  mountain  she  dismounted.  Tying  her  horse 


IO4 


HALF  MARRIED. 


to  an  evergreen  tree,  she  cautiously  walked  to  the 
bank  of  a  high  precipice  and  threw  the  poor 
faithful  kettle  down.  Down,  down,  hundreds  of 
feet,  it  slid  and  bumped,  finding  a  resting-place  at 
last.  May  we  all  rest  as  well  at  the  end  of  our 
slips  and  hard  knocks  ! 

Oh,  Bessie,  foolish  woman,  you  are  actually 
crying  over  a  copper  kettle !  But  it  was  the  one 
article  in  her  possession  that  called  to  mind 
exclusively  domestic  and  affectionate  memories. 
Her  father's  swords  and  personal  belongings  she 
could  see  and  handle  without  any  particular  emo- 
tion,— they  were  part  of  the  world  and  its  ways, — 
but  the  "campaigner"  she  could  not  look  at 
without  tears,  and  as  for  giving  it  away, — never 
should  it  be  touched  by  human  hands  after  that 
breakfast-party. 

Bessie  arranged  in  boxes  and  trunks  the  various 
possessions  that  were  to  be  packed  away ;  some 
were  to  be  left  at  the  fort  until  she  knew  what 
and  where  her  life  was  to  be.  Being  by  nature 
and  education  self-reliant,  and  always  having  lived 
in  that  uncertain  state,  "subject  to  orders,"  the 
vagueness  of  her  future  gave  her  no  uneasiness. 
She  was  very,  very  sad,  but  had  no  more  anxiety 


HALF  MARRIED. 


105 


about  herself  than  an  officer  who  is  ordered  from 
one  station  to  another.  In  one  of  her  two  trunks 
that  were  to  go  East  she  threw  one  or  two  whips, 
one  of  the  general's  swords  that  had  "  seen  ser- 
vice," the  deer-skin  rug,  a  certain  broken  spur, 
her  photographs,  sundry  boots  and  hats,  and  her 
own  spurs.  "  They  will  be  a  comfort  to  me  if 
they  are  of  no  use.  I  would  never  dare  to  let 
any  one  see  into  that  trunk,  they  would  think  me 
uncivilized." 

Bessie  left  her  own  room  till  the  last.  Tom 
had  fallen  heir  to  the  cats,  and  enough  tackle  and 
knives  to  make  him  rich  for  a  year.  The  only 
breakable  articles  of  value  that  she  possessed 
were  a  pair  of  Chinese  vases  that  were  very  old, 
and  by  a  miracle  of  good  fortune  had  survived 
entire  through  an  adventurous  and  changing  life. 
She  shook  out  of  one  of  them  the  usual  accumu- 
lation of  buttons,  nails,  screws,  and  matches  that 
seem  to  have  a  natural  affinity  for  deep  mantel 
ornaments,  as  no  one  ever  places  them  there  or  is 
able  to  account  for  their  presence. 

Out  of  the  other  fell  a  little  box  with  the  name 
of  a  well-known  San  Francisco  jeweller  on  it. 
She  quickly  opened  it,  and  found  a  beautiful  little 


106  HALF  MARRIED. 

gold  cross  with  a  star  cut  in  the  centre,  in  which 
was  set  a  small  but  very  bright  diamond,  and  also 
a  note  from  Waring : 

"  BESSIE  DEAR, — Fearing  some  conventional  idea 
would  not  allow  you  to  take  a  gift  from  me,  I  re- 
solved to  steal  a  march  on  you.  As  I  have  no 
debts  you  need  not  think  me  extravagant,  and  do 
not  imagine  me  starving  in  consequence  of  this 
moderate  indulgence.  It  is  the  only  thing  I  have 
ever  given  you,  and  you  will  not  be  cruel  enough 
to  refuse  it  when  you  know  I  may  never  see  you 
again.  Bessie,  my  heart  is  breaking  for  you,  my 
darling.  C.  W." 

Bessie  kissed  the  cross  and  hung  it  round  her 
neck.  She  brushed  away  a  few  tears  that  would 
come,  and  bravely  proceeded  with  her  arrange- 
ments. In  a  week  she  was  ready  and  off!  She 
told  good -by  to  her  friends  with  a  brave  face  as 
she  and  old  Lucy  set  out  towards  New  England. 

How  many  modern  Pilgrims  have  found  a 
grateful  rest  in  that  land  of  family  homesteads, 
old  traditions,  true  and  kindly  hearts! 


CHAPTER    IX. 

AFTER  her  long  journey  Bessie  found  a  cordial 
welcome  from  her  friends. 

Mamie  had  married  at  twenty,  and  now  at 
twenty-five  was  the  mother  of  a  son  and  daughter, 
and  mistress  of  a  pretty  rectory  in  a  lovely  New 
England  town. 

Being  thrown  in  a  circle  of  Mrs.  Talcott's  inti- 
mate friends,  Bessie  had  to  shake  off  her  sadness 
by  day,  for  the  sake  of  her  host  and  hostess ;  but, 
oh,  the  weariness  of  the  nights !  How  continu- 
ally she  thought  of  her  father,  of  her  past 
"  happy-go-lucky"  life,  of  her  graceful  young 
lover,  and  her  other  army  friends  that  could  never 
in  the  nature  of  things  all  meet  together  again, 
never,  never! 

After  a  few  weeks  Bessie  broached  the  some- 
what delicate  subject  of  finding  a  permanent 
home  in  Carrington,  where  she  could  still  con- 
sider herself  under  the  protection  of  these  friends 

in  need.     After  some  pleading  on  Mrs.  Talcott's 

107 


I08  HALF  MARRIED. 

part  and  some  remonstrances  on  Bessie's,  it  was 
decided  that  Bessie  should  remain  six  months 
with  them,  "  paying  her  own  mess  bill,"  and  after 
that  time  a  permanent  plan  would  be  considered. 

The  business  being  thus  arranged,  Bessie  be- 
came almost  cheerfully  occupied  in  arranging  her 
new  quarters.  Her  first  improvement  was  having 
the  chimney-place  arranged  for  a  wood-fire,  and 
investing  in  such  an  enormous  load  of  wood  that 
one  of  the  neighbors  "  wondered  if  the  parson 
was  going  into  the  lumber  business,"  and  all  the 
mammas  wondered  that  their  small  sons  returned 
home  with  legs  entire,  as  the  wood-pile  proved 
such  a  fascinating  object. 

An  obliging  dry-goods  clerk  picked  out  a  large 
box  with  a  whole  cover  for  our  young  lady,  and 
very  soon  it  was  covered  with  bright  cretonne,  and 
kept  well  filled  at  the  right  of  the  hearth,  a  la 
Fort  Derby.  The  trophies  had  all  been  hid,  but 
now  appeared  in  full  force.  The  general's  sword, 
the  deer-skin,  the  Chinese  vases,  the  broken  spur, 
and  all.  The  photographs,  all  but  one,  came  from 
their  seclusion,  and  a  pot  of  violets,  from  the  only 
florist  that  the  town  could  boast,  gave  the  room 
that  inhabited  and  used  look  it  had  lacked  before, 


HALF  MARRIED. 


IO9 


in  spite  of  its  pretty  furniture  and  pleasant  out- 
look. 

Waring's  picture  never  showed  its  handsome 
face  to  this  gentle  household.  After  the  family 
separated  for  the  night  and  Bessie  had  softly 
locked  the  door  on  friend  and  foe,  the  young 
lieutenant  was  put  on  the  mantel-piece,  the  wood 
was  put  on  the  fire,  a  crisp  light  curl  and  a  gold 
cross  were  too  often  taken  to  the  fire-light,  and 
Bessie  lived  over  and  over  again  the  past  year  of 
her  life.  Waring  thus  became  the  centre  of  these 
reminiscences, — he  was  all  that  was  left  un- 
changed. She  often  truly  wished  that  for  his 
own  sake  he  would  change  towards  her,  yet  she 
thought  he  never  would,  and  in  these  many  quiet, 
lonely  moments  she  almost  heard  him  speak  or 
felt  his  gentle  touch. 

Like  many  New  England  towns,  Carrington 
was,  in  a  small  way,  quite  a  literary  centre. 
There  were  besides  its  regular  well-read  inhabi- 
tants always  a  number  of  law  and  medical  stu- 
dents, perhaps  one  or  two  rusticated  collegiates, 
or  others  making  up  "  conditions,"  so  with  these 
different  sorts  of  people  brushing  against  each 
other  it  was  not  at  all  a  place  to  rust  in. 


I IO  HALF  MARRIED. 

Mr.  Talcott's  rectory  held  about  the  same  posi- 
tion in  Carrington,  as  a  rallying-point,  that  the 
general's  quarters  had  at  Fort  Derby.  While 
matters  of  church  and  state  were  solemnly  ar- 
ranged in  that  sacred  precinct,  the  study,  rowing- 
parties,  rides,  and  picnics  were  planned  in  parlor 
and  garden,  and  carried  out  with  great  success. 

Before  the  summer  had  really  set  in,  Bessie 
found  herself  interested  and  at  home  in  her  new 
surroundings.  Her  rebelliousness  against  fate 
had  at  least  slumbered,  and  she  was  beginning  to 
find  new  friends  and  new  enjoyment. 

Mr.  Talcott  had  talked  a  great  deal  to  Bessie 
about  a  classmate  of  his,  "a  lawyer,  quite  one 
of  the  rising  men  of  New  York;  would  some 
day  make  his  mark  ;  Bessie  would  enjoy  him ; 
Bessie  must  cultivate  him,  he  was  so  clever,  etc., 
etc.  He  had  been  abroad  two  years,  the  last  he 
had  spent  studying  at  Heidelberg,  and  was  now 
expected  home  almost  any  day." 

Poor  Bessie's  interests  were  so  in  another  direc- 
tion that  she  took  not  the  least  interest  in  this 
brilliant  youth,  and  could  hardly  listen  to  the 
recital  of  his  virtues  and  accomplishments  with 
becoming  politeness.  She  inwardly  resolved  that 


HALF  MARRIED.  m 

she  had  had  all  the  trouble  with  men  that  she 
wanted,  or  was  going  to  have,  and  hardened  her 
heart  against  this  friend  of  her  friend. 

One  day  Mr.  Talcott  came  into  his  wife's  room, 
where  she  and  Bessie  were  sitting,  to  tell  her  that 
he  had  just  had  a  telegram  from  this  friend,  Fred 
Lennox,  and  that  he  would  be  with  them  for 
dinner  at  six  o'clock. 

Bessie  was  so  comfortable  in  this  her  first  ex- 
perience of  settled  family  life  that  she  rather  re- 
sented the  idea  of  an  "  interloper,"  and  wished  that 
this  "  chip  from  a  German  workshop"  would  con- 
tinue to  pursue  elsewhere  those  mysterious  pas- 
times known  collectively  as  "studies  abroad."  She 
did  not  trouble  herself  to  think  of  him,  but  her 
mind  had  independently  conjured  up  a  picture.  A 
short,  stout,  awkward  man, — his  father  had  been  a 
farmer, — and  though  she  did  not  expect  to  see 
him  in  overalls  and  a  wide-brimmed  hat,  she 
rather  looked  forward  to  meeting  a  slightly  re- 
fined edition  of  the  horny-handed  sons  of  toil, 
a  wise,  heavy  man, — heavy  artillery.  No  matter 
who  or  what  he  was,  he  was  entitled  to  see  his 
friends,  after  this  long  absence,  unembarrassed  by 
the  presence  of  a  stranger.  So  after  lunch  Bessie 


H2  HALF  MARRIED. 

* 

told  Mrs.  Talcott  that  she  would  take  small  Jack 
and  Miss  Howard  (a  pretty  little  blonde  who  lived 
just  across  the  way)  and  go  on  the  river.  Mrs. 
Talcott  expressed  her  agreement,  told  Bessie  to 
tie  Jack  in  with  a  rope  so  he  would  not  crawl 
overboard,  and  admonished  her  to  be  home  in 
plenty  of  time  to  dress  for  dinner.  "  You  know 
Fred  will  be  here,  and  we  want  you  to  make  an 
impression." 

That  was  just  what  Bessie  had  resolved  not  to 
do,  so  she  carefully  timed  her  excursion  in  order 
to  reach  home  exactly  five  minutes  before  dinner. 

She  was  in  a  black  dress,  white  flannel  boating- 
shirt,  and  black  slouch  hat.  She  had  calmly 
donned  that  costume  and  walked  down  to  the 
river  as  unconcernedly  as  she  wore  a  forage-cap 
and  a  pair  of  spurs  in  the  garrison  days.  The 
inhabitants  of  this  quiet  town  were  at  first  rather 
startled  upon  these  occasions  at  the  appearance 
of  "  that  general's  daughter  from  away  out  West," 
and  had  a  misgiving  that  she  might  be  "  fast,"  a 
sort  of  unknown  quantity  only  less  interesting 
than  a  ghost. 

After  meeting  her  these  misgivings  disappeared, 
and  then  "  the  parson"  in  a  New  England  town 


HALF  MARRIED.  !  1 3 

would  no  more  be  accused,  for  long,  of  harboring 
any  fast  person,  unless  some  unfortunate  "  Rustic", 
brought  to  him  for  godly  admonition,  than  he 
would  be  thought  capable  of  preaching  against 
Apostolic  Succession  or  the  accepted  liturgy. 

At  five  minutes  of  six  the  trio  appeared,  and 
had  evidently  been  laurel-hunting.  Miss  Howard 
said  good-by  on  her  side  of  the  street,  and  Bessie 
and  Jack,  loaded  down  with  laurel  blossoms  and 
ferns,  walked  slowly  up  the  garden-walk. 

Bessie's  hair  was  in  a  most  becoming  frizz,  her 
eyes  sparkling  and  her  cheeks  glowing  from  her 
exercise.  She  was  so  much  happier  since  she 
could  live  more  in  the  open  air.  She  looked 
fairly  radiant  as  she  marched  along  with  her 
young  cavalier,  and  all  the  time  she  was  con- 
gratulating herself  that  she  was  looking  like  a 
fright. 

She  reached  the  porch  where  Mamie  was 
seated  arrayed  in  a  spotless  white  dress  and 
blue  ribbons.  She  looked  reproachfully  at  the 
"  mussed  up"  beauty,  but  before  she  could  speak 
the  two  gentlemen  stepped  out  of  the  door. 
Before  the  introduction  was  over  these  two  young 

people  had  been  mutually  surprised.     From  Mr. 
h  10* 


HALF  MARRIED. 

Talcott's  well-known  mania  for  picking  up  "  for- 
lornities,"  Lennox,  without  even  listening  to  the 
name,  had  expected  to  meet  a  deserted  damsel  of 
mature  years,  and  Bessie  was  taken  quite  aback 
as  she  saw  the  real  Fred  Lennox  and  not  her 
ideal. 

A  tall,  slender,  handsome  man  stood  before  her. 
His  eyes  and  wavy  hair  were  dark,  his  complex- 
ion pale  enough  to  give  what  is  generally  called 
an  "  interesting"  expression  to  his  face.  Though 
young,  he  was  entirely  past  the  boyish  stage ;  his 
features  lighted  up  with  the  brightest  of  smiles, 
while  in  repose  his  face  gave  one  the  idea  of 
studiousness  or  thoughtfulness.  There  was  no 
implication  of  carelessness  in  his  bearing,  speech, 
or  dress.  In  five  minutes  one  would  recognize  in 
him  a  man  with  an  aim,  who,  while  marching  to 
that  aim,  would  leave  untried  no  honest  way  to 
get  there,  and  who  would  keep  himself  well  in 
hand  during  all  his  progress.  He  was  "  raised," 
as  the  saying  is,  on  a  New  England  farm,  and 
cordially  hated  his  surroundings.  His  parents, 
narrowly  intelligent  people,  were  sufficiently  well 
off  in  this  world's  goods,  and  held  on,  with  the 
desperation  of  a  forlorn  hope,  to  those  remnants 


HALF  MARRIED.  1 1 5 

of  Puritanism  which  have  happily  become  almost 
things  of  the  past. 

Master  Fred,  the  youngest  of  six,  was  in  one 
sense  the  black  sheep  of  the  family.  The  Puritan 
strain  having  been  nearly  exhausted  in  the  other 
five,  its  only  trace  in  him  was  a  quiet,  persistent, 
dogged  purpose,  but  so  very  quiet  and  self-con- 
tained that  its  power  was  almost  unsuspected. 

As  a  child  he  read  with  avidity  the  scant  and  dry 
collection  of  household  books.  One  day  he  came 
across  an  old  volume  of  Patrick  Henry's  speeches, 
and  he  resolved  that  he  "  would  be  a  lawyer 
and  make  speeches  too."  Though  this  idea  was 
often  covered  over  or  put  aside  for  a  long  time, 
it  always  served  for  the  foundation  of  his  air 
castles. 

At  nineteen  or  twenty,  he  was  in  college  when 
the  war  broke  out.  His  father,  Mr.  Abram  Len- 
nox, was  a  violent  abolitionist.  Being  too  old  to 
go  to  war  himself,  he  was  loud  and  vehement  in 
pointing  out  to  others  the  road  to  glory.  To  his 
utter  amazement,  his  son,  whom  he  still  consid- 
ered a  boy,  took  him  at  his  word  and  joined  the 
— th  Connecticut.  He  remained  in  the  army, 
with  various  adventures,  for  three  years;  then 


Il6  HALF  MARRIED. 

studied  law,  and  soon  after  his  being  admitted  to 
the  bar  old  Abram  died. 

For  forty  years  this  old  man  had  been  a  great 
anti-slavery  agitator.  When  slavery  was  done 
away  with,  either  not  finding  a  more  sinful  com- 
munity or  a  more  congenial  topic,  he  directed  his 
moral  thunders  to  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  died 
just  soon  enough  not  to  know  that  Fred  had 
joined  that  "  inlet  to  Popery."  The  current  idea 
was  that  had  the  bishop's  visitation  occurred  a 
few  weeks  sooner  than  it  did,  in  all  probability 
Mr.  Fred  Lennox  would  not  have  been  enjoying 
his  very  comfortable  inheritance.  After  a  few 
years  of  wonderfully  successful  practice  for  such 
a  young  man,  he  went  abroad  to  do  some  par- 
ticular studying  and  become  familiar  with  the 
German  language.  We  have  now  given  a  very 
rapid  sketch  of  his  life  up  to  the  time  we  find 
him  confronting  Bessie  this  soft  summer  even- 
ing. 

After  the  introduction,  he  gave  Bessie  one  look 
of  surprised  admiration  as  he  said,  "Miss  Lansing, 
I  am  happy  to  meet  you."  The  words  were 
quickly  spoken  but  with  perfect  distinctness. 
Bessie  was  struck  with  his  height  and  almost 


HALF  MARRIED. 


117 


soldierly  bearing.  She  and  Jack  were  only  able 
to  give  slight  attention  to  their  toilets  when  din- 
ner was  announced.  Mr.  Lennox  was  most  agree- 
able. Bessie  wished  that  she  had  "  dressed  her- 
self." After  an  hour  on  the  porch  the  rain  began 
gently  falling,  and  the  quartette  were  driven  in- 
doors. Bessie,  wishing  to  leave  the  friends  to- 
gether, rose  from  her  chair  ostensibly  to  arrange 
an  obstinate  fern  and  piece  of  laurel,  but  in  reality 
to  beat  a  graceful  and  undetected  retreat.  As  she 
stood  by  the  low  mantel  Lennox  turned  abruptly 
towards  her. 

"  Is  it  possible  that  you  are  a  daughter  of 
General  Beekman  Lansing?" 

"  I  am  his  only  child." 

"  Where  is  the  general  ?" 

"  My  father  is  dead,  sir." 

Lennox  had  "put  his  foot  in  it"  as  no  thor- 
oughly society  man  would  have  done,  but  got  out 
of  his  difficulty  as  only  an  inborn  gentleman  could. 
He  was  on  his  feet  in  a  second. 

"  Forgive  me,  Miss  Lansing,  but  I  can  say  to 
you  now  what  I  could  not  if  your  father  was 
living, — he  has  always  been  my  ideal  of  what  a 
man  and  a  soldier  should  be." 


I  x  g  HALF  MARRIED. 

Bessie  took  an  involuntary  step  towards  him 
as  she  said, — 

"  Did  you  know  my  father?" 

He  answered,  pleasantly, — 

"  Miss  Lansing,  you  know  that  young  second 
lieutenants  are  not  as  a  rule  particularly  intimate 
with  their  generals.  I  never  spoke  to  your  father; 
but  we  youngsters  signalled  him  out  for  our  par- 
ticular admiration.  I  can  see  him  now  at  the 
head  of  his  troops." 

After  a  short  pause  Bessie  made  her  exercise 
an  excuse  for  going  to  her  room.  Mr.  Talcott 
made  some  remark  about  her  not  appreciating 
entertaining  society,  and  she  gave  him  a  saucy 
good-night.  As  she  turned  to  say  a  conventional 
good-evening  to  Lennox,  he  stood  up  quickly  and 
gave  her  a  regular  military  salute.  Without  stop- 
ping to  think  she  returned  it,  and,  blushing  at  her 
own  nonsense,  ran  up-stairs. 

That  familiar  salute,  more  even  than  the  kind 
words  about  her  father,  was  pleasant  to  her;  it 
was  as  if  a  little  of  the  old  times  had  come  to  her 
again.  As  she  was  falling  asleep  after  the  pleas- 
ant excitement  of  the  day,  she  could  almost  hear 
sentry  No.  I  call  out,  "Ten  o'clock  and  all  is 


HALF  MARRIED.  n^ 

well,"  and  sentry  No.  2  reply.  As  she  descended 
to  breakfast  the  next  morning  she  said  to  herself 
that  she  and  Mr.  Lennox  would  be  real  good 
friends,  but, — where  was  he  ?  Gone  on  an  early 
train  to  the  farm  to  say  "  How  d'ye  do"  for  a  day 
or  so  before  coming  back  to  town  and  work. 
Bessie  unhesitatingly  told  her  friends  that  she 
liked  Mr.  Lennox  very  much.  Mr.  Talcott 
looked  delighted,  but  Mamie  knew  she  was  not 
one  to  be  so  easily  captivated.  In  fact,  that  mili- 
tary salute  had  recalled  very  much,  and  Bessie  felt 
a  reaction  from  her  liveliness  of  the  night  before. 


CHAPTER    X.      • 

LENNOX  soon  returned,  and  made  it  his  habit, 
after  the  day's  work  was  done,  to  spend  the  even- 
ing at  Mrs.  Talcott's.  He  and  Bessie  had  become 
the  best  of  friends.  He  had  a  certain  faculty  of 
leading  that  almost  fascinated  her.  Everybody 
deferred  to  him,  and  though  he  never  raised  his 
voice,  he  was  always  obeyed,  and  still  more  re- 
markable, his  advice  was  usually  taken.  Without 
being  vain  or  conceited,  he  had  entire  confidence 
in  himself.  As  yet  he  had  achieved  nothing  in 
particular,  but  still  was  considered  successful. 
Kind-hearted  and  generous,  he  yet  lacked  that 
delicate  sympathy,  better  described  as  lovable- 
ness,  that  men  who  have  lived  much  alone  so 
often  lack.  No  one  could  help  admiring  or  trust- 
ing him,  and  though  women  always  fancied  him, 
they  were  generally  too  much  afraid  of  him  to 
make  more  than  the  faintest  attempts  to  attract 
his  notice. 

One  September  morning  a  messenger  arrived  to 


HALF  MARRIED.  I2l 

inform  Mrs.  Talcott's  cook  that  her  mother  had 
inadvertently  fallen  down  the  cellar  stairs  back- 
wards (she  was  an  Irishwoman),  and  Bridget  left 
forthwith.  Mrs.  Talcott  had  had  a  few  days'  ill- 
ness and  was  not  yet  down-stairs;  thus  Bessie 
found  herself  with  the  family  on  her  hands.  She 
and  the  little  maid  managed  with  the  children  and 
the  lunch  successfully,  but  when  dinner-time  came 
Bessie's  heart  sank  within  her.  The  range  was 
an  unknown  complication.  "  A  first-class  en- 
gineer couldn't  arrange  those  drafts."  She  would 
not  disturb  Mr.  Talcott,  who  would  not  know 
anything  about  it  in  all  probability,  and  did  not 
dare  bring  Mamie  down.  In  her  despair  a  lucky 
thought  seized  her.  She  wrote  a  note  to  Lennox 
and  sent  it  by  the  little  maid : 

"  MR.  LENNOX, — Do  you  remember  enough  of 
your  army  life  to  make  a  '  camp  fire'  ?  The 
cook  did  go;  the  range  won't  go.  It  is  most 
time  for  dinner,  and,  alas,  I  have  to  cook  it. 

"B.  L." 

Lennox  soon  vaulted  over  the  side  gate,  and 
said  he  would  make  the  fire  while  Bessie  arranged 


122  HALF  MARRIED. 

the  rations.  Soon  he  had  a  good  camp  fire,  and 
in  due  time  a  very  comfortable  dinner  was  cooked. 

The  two  children  were  seated  on  the  ground, 
and  by  means  of  dire  threats  kept  at  a  respectful 
distance  while  the  maid  set  the  table. 

During  the  preparation  of  the  meal  numerous 
juvenile  neighbors  ornamented  the  adjoining 
fences,  and  spread  the  news  that  "  the  young  lady 
at  the  minister's  was  cooking  coffee  and  frying 
something  over  a  bonfire."  When  Mrs.  and  Mr. 
Talcott  were  shown  the  stove,  they  were  as  much 
amused  as  the  small  boys.  The  dinner  was 
highly  appreciated,  and  immediately  after  it  was 
finished  Mrs.  Talcott  was  sent  up-stairs,  while 
Bessie  and  Lennox  attended  to  the  "  camp  uten- 
sils." After  these  unusual  exertions  they  seated 
themselves  on  the  veranda  to  cool  off.  Bessie  was 
tired  after  her  exertions  as  "company  cook,"  and 
as  Lennox  was  too  much  enfamille  to  need  enter- 
taining, she  sat  perfectly  still  watching  a  cloud 
flying  over  the  face  of  the  moon.  Lennox  most 
unexpectedly  arose,  and,  leaning  over  the  back  of 
her  chair,  without  a  moment's  warning,  said, — 

"  Miss  Bessie,  I  want  you  to  marry  me.  I  love 
you !" 


HALF  MARRIED.  i2$ 

She  was  too  utterly  astonished  to  speak. 

He  had  never  even  paid  her  a  compliment 
before.  Such  a  matter-of-fact,  concise  proposal 
took  her  breath  away.  He  had  not  given  her  a 
loop-hole  of  retreat.  Like  everything  he  did,  it 
was  accomplished  in  the  most  direct  and  unmis- 
takable manner. '  She  stammered  rather  than 
spoke, — 

"  Oh,  but  I  have  not  known  you  long  enough  ; 
of  course  I  do  not  love  you." 

She  did  not  say  that  to  Waring  when  he 
smoothed  her  hair  and  dried  her  tears  on  that 
stormy  night  long  ago. 

"  But,  Miss  Bessie,  will  you  answer  me  one 
question  ?  Are  you  engaged  already  ?" 

He  was  perfectly  self-possessed,  but  his  lips 
were  tight  shut  and  his  hands  clasped  over  the 
back  of  the  chair. 

She  was  not  engaged  to  Waring ;  she  had  only 
promised  to  wait,  and  had  told  him  it  would  be 
useless ;  but  for  the  first  time  in  her  life  she  was 
tempted  to  deceive.  If  she  said  yes,  it  would  be 
only  half  a  lie,  and  would  perhaps  save  them 
some  misery.  Instinctively  she  felt  that  she  was 
not  strong  enough  to  resist  this  man  as  she  had 


HALF  MARRIED. 

the  other,  but  she  could  not  do  violence  to  her 
honest  nature,  and,  after  a  little  hesitation,  said, — 

"  No,  Mr.  Lennox,  I  am  not  engaged ;"  and 
added  rather  vaguely,  "  but  it  will  make  no  differ- 
ence." 

"  We  will  see ;  I  shall  persist." 

Of  course  he  would ;  he  had  persisted  since  he 
was  six  months  old. 

"  I  shall  tell  Talcott,  of  course,"  he  continued. 
"  Good-night." 

He  kissed  her  hand  in  the  somewhat  delicate 
foreign  fashion,  and  walked  down  the  elm-shaded 
street  to  his  bachelor  quarters.  They  looked 
particularly  grim  and  bachelor-like  to  him  that 
evening. 

After  his  departure  Bessie  slipped  quietly  into 
her  own  room,  and  as  she  looked  out  over  the 
broad  river  with  the  different  boat-lights  flitting  to 
and  fro,  she  felt  herself  a  sort  of  traitor  without 
knowing  exactly  why.  With  the  cross  in  her 
hand  she  communed  with  herself, — 

"  Oh,  Charlie  darling,  why  can't  I  love  you  a 
little  more  or  a  great  deal  less  ?  Why  are  you 
always ,  in  my  thoughts  ?  When  it  is  so  hard  to 
have  you  from  me,  why  can't  I  bring  myself  to 


HALF  MARRIED. 


125 


going  to  you  ?  Will  you  come  back  in  two  years, 
or  will  you  forget — forget?" 

The  following  evening  she  received  a  note  from 
Lennox.  He  was  going  away  for  a  few  weekSj 
and  before  leaving  wished  to  impress  upon  her 
that  his  proposal  was  no  sudden  thing,  but  the 
deliberate  result  of  his  admiration  of  her  beauty 
and  character.  With  him  it  was  she  or  none,  and 
he  begged  her  to  remember  this  when  he  sum- 
moned up  courage  to  ask  her  again,  as  he  cer- 
tainly would  do. 

Evidently  Mr.  Talcott  was  not  to  be  informed 
of  the  state  of  affairs  until  the  lawyer's  return. 
The  note  rather  piqued  Bessie,  there  was  such  a 
tone  of  confident  success  about  it. 

"  So  he  is  going  to  ask  me  again !  I'll  not 
listen,  that's  all."  But  she  did,  and  this  is  how  it 
came  about.  A  few  days  after  Lennox  had  gone 
the  two  ladies  and  the  children  were  sitting  on 
the  veranda,  enjoying  the  last  precious  moments 
of  Indian  summer.  It  was  a  hazy,  dreamy  Octo- 
ber day,  when  the  hills  were  all  red  and  gold,  the 
sky  and  water  the  purest  of  blues,  and  the  sumac 
and  golden-rod  "  made  the  place  of  His  feet 

glorious." 

u* 


I26  HALF  MARRIED. 

Their  summer  dreamings  were  interrupted  by 
Mr.  Talcott,  who  walked  up  to  the  ladies  with  the 
family  mail  in  his  hands.  He  teased  Bessie  about 
her  missives,  giving  her  two.  She  saw  by  the 
address  that  one  was  from  small  Tom,  the  other 
from  Mrs.  Worthington.  The  third  he  kept  a  few 
moments  before  giving  it  to  her.  She  almost 
gasped  as  she  recognized  Waring's  writing. 
While  the  others  were  reading  their  letters  Bessie 
took  hers  to  her  own  room,  and  with  surprise  and 
fear  she  opened  it.  It  was  so  very  unexpected, 
and  coming  so  soon  after  Lennox's  declaration, 
she  was  quite  unnerved  for  a  few  moments  and 
could  not  collect  herself  sufficiently  to  read  it. 
The  words  danced  and  blurred  before  her  eyes. 
It  ran  thus : 

"Mv  DEAREST  BESSIE, — 

"You  will  no  doubt  be  surprised  at  hearing 
from  me,  and  more  so  when  you  read  what  I  have 
to  say," — Bessie  trembled  and  grew  cold ;  had  he 
then  forgotten,  and  so  soon  ? — "  but  I  know  that  it 
should  have  been  said  long  ago.  In  these  few 
long  months  I  have  changed  very  much.  As  I 
rode  away  from  you  on  that  saddest  morning  of 


HALF  MARRIED. 


127 


my  life,  I  was  no  longer  a  boy,  but  a  man.  Since 
then  we  have  had  two  or  three  pretty  close  shaves 
from  Indians  and  blizzards,  and  even  when  I 
thought  it  was  all  up  with  us,  I  remembered  that 
I  had  not  written  to  release  you  from  your 
promise.  It  was  very  selfish  in  me  to  ask  you  to 
wait  for  such  a  good-for-nothing  fellow  as  I  am, 
and,  besides,  I  cannot  bear  the  suspense,  so  now  I 
release  you  from  all  promises  and  ask  you  once 
more  to  be  my  wife,  and  I  will  never  ask  you 
again.  If  your  answer  is  favorable — but  I  will 
spare  you  the  oft-repeated  tale, — God  only  knows 
what  it  will  be  to  me.  If  it  is  not  favorable,  you 
need  not  fear  my  boyish  and  foolish  threat  of 
going  to  the  devil.  I  shall  try  to  consider  it  a 
just  punishment  and  fight  it  out  to  the  bitter  end. 
Believe  me,  for  your  sake,  if  for  no  other  reason, 
I  will  always  try  to  do  my  very  best,  so  perhaps 
some  day  you  may  be  a  little  proud  of  me,  even 
if  you  cannot  love  me.  Oh,  Bessie !  what  it  is  for 
me  to  write  so  coolly  and  quietly  to  you  when  my 
heart  is  breaking  you  will  never  know.  Remem- 
ber, whatever  your  answer  is,  I  am  yours  only  and 
always.  Good-by,  my  darling !  my  darling ! 

"  C.  W." 


I28  HALF  MARRIED. 

That  night  Bessie  sat  by  her  open  window  a 
long  time  after  the  lights  were  out  in  the  quiet 
street.  The  hunter's  moon  rose  full  and  beautiful 
over  a  bend  in  the  river,  turning  it  into  a  silver 
lake;  the  elm-trees  hardly  moved  their  graceful, 
sweeping  branches  in  the  gentle  breeze  as  she  sat 
there  thinking,  thinking.  Perhaps  her  young  sol- 
dier at  his  camp  fire  was  thinking  of  her,  too, 
at  that  moment. 

Early  the  next  morning  she  awoke  from  her 
uneasy  slumbers  and  sent  her  last  message  to 
Waring  for  many  years : 

"DEAR  CHARLIE, — 

"  Your  letter  reached  me  yesterday.  It  did 
surprise  me.  I  cannot  marry  you.  It  is  very 
noble  in  you  to  release  me,  and  it  is  best,  but  I 
would  have  kept  my  promise  if  you  had  not 
written. 

"You  must  not  call  yourself  a  good-for-nothing 
fellow.  I  have  always  found  you  honorable  and 
true.  In  all  the  experiences  that  may  be  before 
me,  I  know  I  shall  look  back  to  the  year  you  were 
at  Fort  Derby  as  the  happiest  of  my  life,  and 
come  what  may  I  shall  never  forget  you.  I  will 


HALF  MARRIED. 

think  of  you  always,  and  will  know  your  where- 
abouts and  will  keep  posted  concerning  you. 

"  I  shall  always  be  ready  to  help  you  in  any 
way  I  can,  and  perhaps  some  day  when  we  are 
older  and  have  forgotten  a  little  we  will  meet 
again  happily. 

"  I  know  the  weight  of  this  falls  upon  you,  but 
do  not  think  it  easy  for  me  to  give  up  '  my  dear 
boy'  forever.     May  God  bless  and  keep  you  ! 
"  Always  your  friend, 

"  BESSIE." 

Bessie  posted  her  letter  and  solaced  herself  with 
a  long  horseback-ride.  She  had  written  her  an- 
swer with  apparent  coolness,  but  all  the  time  the 
tears  were  falling  from  her  eyes,  and  it  took  one 
hand  to  keep  them  from  dropping  on  the  paper. 
Some  were  for  herself  but  most  for  Waring. 
Though  she  had  been  looking  forward  to  this  as 
inevitable  for  a  long  time,  it  appeared  cruel  to  dis- 
miss him  so  quietly,  now  that  the  time  had  come, 
and  the  unexpected  manliness  of  his  final  demand 
almost  shook  her  purpose. 

Though  distressed  beyond  measure  at  the  part- 
ing, at  the  same  time  she  felt  a  sense  of  relief,  as 


HALF  MARRIED. 

if  a  dreaded  responsibility  had  been  lifted  from 
her  life.  She  had  done  all  through  what  she  con- 
scientiously considered  her  duty,  and  that  was  her 
only  consolation  in  this  present  time  of  trouble. 

When  Bessie  returned  from  her  long  ride  she 
took  the  cross  from  her  neck,  laid  it  in  the  little 
box  it  came  in,  alongside  the  bright  little  curl,  and 
with  that  spirit  of  fun  that  lingers  with  some  few 
happy  natures  through  all  life's  trials  and  afflic- 
tions, she  labelled  that  last  letter  of  his  "  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,"  and  smiled  through  her 
tears  as  she  put  it  in  a  certain  corner  with  her 
other  notes.  She  still  had  every  scrap  he  had 
written  her.  Now  that  it  was  all  over,  she  set 
herself  resolutely  to  looking  for  her  happiness  in 
her  present  surroundings,  and  bravely  pushed 
aside  the  longings  for  the  old  life.  They  were 
not  overcome,  but  they  were  not  encouraged. 

Lennox  returned  in  three  weeks,  and  with  his 
quick  penetration  saw  that,  in  some  way,  things 
had  turned  to  his  own  advantage.  In  fact,  Bessie 
was  now  free,  and  anything  she  chose  to  do  had 
no  suggestion  of  double-dealing  to  her  strict  self- 
scrutiny. 

Lennox  made  the  best  use  of  his  time,  not  in 


HALF  MARRIED.  i^\ 

the  teasing,  distracting  style  of  Waring,  but  by 
gradually  making  himself  necessary  to  his  lady- 
love. He  posted  her  in  regard  to  the  business 
matters  pertaining  to  her  coming  of  age,  was  al- 
ways ready  to  serve  and  entertain  her,  yet  quietly 
made  way  for  the  younger  men  who  frequented 
this  pleasant  home.  The  idea  of  being  jealous  of 
them  never  entered  his  mind.  In  fact,  he  found 
watching  their  mild  efforts  to  captivate  this  young 
lady  quite  an  entertaining  and  amusing  example 
of  the  fatuity  of  youth,  and  wondered  if  in  years 
past  he  ever  had  been  so  asinine.  As  he  recalled 
his  three  years  in  the  army,  before  he  was  the  age 
of  these  much-despised  youths,  he  briefly  con- 
cluded that  he  was  not,  or  the  Lord  would  surely 
have  left  his  bones  to  ornament  the  field  of  Get- 
tysburg or  Antietam. 

The  Indian  summer,  the  stormy  winter,  and 
spring  passed,  and  when  summer  came,  without 
knowing  just  how  it  came  about,  Bessie  found 
herself  engaged  to  be  married  to  Lennox.  She 
was  a  little  frightened  at  what  she  had  done. 
Her  life  was  so  entirely  in  her  own  hands,  so 
entirely  uninfluenced  by  any  one's  authority.  It 
was  quite  alarming  to  take  this  step  all  alone. 


1T>2  HALF  MARRIED. 

After  she  had  once  pledged  herself,  she  questioned 
herself  over  and  over  again  whether  she  were 
capable  of  making  this  man's  life  and  home  happy. 
She  did  not  consider  herself  sufficiently  domestic, 
but  as  she  looked  over  her  acquaintances,  she  felt 
honestly  that  she  was  not  inferior  to  many  women 
who  were  good  and  useful  wives  and  mothers. 
And  why  could  she  not  succeed  as  they  had  ? 
Yet  she  had  some  misgivings.  She  was  always  a 
little  more  reserved  and  subdued  than  ordinary  in 
Lennox's  society.  She  admired  him  immensely, 
and  so  loyally  regarded  him  as  the  ruling  power 
that  she  lost  some  of  her  individuality  in  his 
masterful  presence. 

The  wedding  preparations  progressed  quietly. 
Bessie  was  overawed.  It  was  a  little  dreadful, 
after  all,  to  give  up  one's  freedom,  that  "  personal 
liberty"  that  poets  had  sung  and  nations  fought 
for,  and  be  under  the  control  of  another.  Though 
she  really  loved  Lennox,  there  was  that  solemnity 
about  taking  an  irrevocable  step  which  always 
affects  one  who  is  not  entirely  shallow  and  frivo- 
lous. 

But  what  really  overshadowed  her  future  was 
the  thought  of  Waring's  loneliness.  If  he  were 


HALF  MARRIED.  ^3 

consoled,  how  happy  she  would  be.  Like  Fe- 
dalma,  "  she  would  not  take  a  heaven  haunted  by 
shrieks  of  far-off  misery"  if  it  were  offered  to  her, 
and  it  seemed  almost  as  cruel  to  take  a  fair  share 
of  this  world's  happiness  when  others  had  little 
or  none. 

A  short  time  before  her  wedding  she  wrote  to 
tell  her  old  friends  of  her  prospects.  Not  one  of 
them  would  be  with  her,  and  she  realized  anew 
how  conspicuously  alone  she  was  in  the  world, 
and  how  restful  was  the  strength  of  this  man  she 
loved. 

She  was  puzzled  about  Waring, — it  would  be 
decidedly  stretching  a  point  to  write  and  tell  him 
of  her  engagement.  There  might  be  another  in 
the  case,  yet  she  could  not  leave  his  finding  it  out 
to  chance,  so  she  wrote  a  long  letter  to  Arthur, 
who  was  with  Waring  again,  inquiring  kindly 
after  the  old  set  and  asking  him  to  tell  Charlie 
and  her  other  friends. 

Arthur  kept  the  news  to  himself  all  day,  not 
knowing  what  the  effect  would  be  on  his  friend. 
At  night,  as  Waring  was  leaving  his  quarters,  he 
handed  him  the  letter.  He  read  it  where  he 
stood,  and  with  a  half  smile  said,  "  So  soon  ?" 


'HALF  MARRIED. 

He  lighted  a  cigar,  and  after  a  short  walk  en- 
tered his  room.  He  gathered  together  the  few 
little  notes  and  keepsakes,  even  the  lock  of  hair, 
and  heroically  burnt  them  all.  The  little  bayo- 
net, which  was  always  pinned  somewhere  in  his 
clothing,  and  the  Prayer  Book,  were  all  he  kept. 
There  were  no  boyish  tears,  no  reproaches  against 
fate  or  fortune.  As  he  saw  the  few  visible  signs 
of  his  grande  passion  disappear  in  smoke,  he 
said  only  three  words.  He  thought  of  Bessie, 
and  said  "  So  soon !"  of  himself,  and  he  said 
"Forever!" 


CHAPTER    XI. 

BESSIE  and  Lennox  were  quietly  married,  much 
to  the  disappointment  of  the  community,  who  had 
conjured  up  enticing  visions  of  groomsmen  and 
ushers  in  glittering  uniforms,  and  started  for  their 
wedding  journey.  Bessie  once  more  found  her- 
self launched  into  new  relations  of  life.  Lennox 
had  told  her  that  it  would  be  necessary  for  her 
to  visit  his  home  for  a  few  days  at  least.  She  was 
more  than  willing  to  do  so.  He  gave  her  a  most 
alarming  picture  of  the  monotony  of  country  life, 
of  the  awful  things  they  would  have  to  eat,  and 
capped  the  recital  by  informing  her  that  his  re- 
lations thought  Episcopalians  had  horns  and  tails. 
She  should  not  stay  over  a  "Sabbath,"  as  that 
would  kill  her  outright, — no  hot  roast  beef  for 
dinner,  no  salad  and  beer  at  night,  no  loafing 
with  cigars  and  pretty  girls  after  the  duties  of 
the  day  were  done,  no  frivolous  talking  of  rides 
and  boats  for  Monday  morning. 

In  spite  of  his  joking,  he  really  feared  his 

'35 


r.j6  HALF  MARRIED. 

young  wife  would  find  the  first  days  of  her  mar- 
ried life  most  trying.  He  laughingly  promised  to 
reward  her  for  conceding  so  sweetly  to  his  wishes 
by  taking  her  to  New  York  and  going  to  the 
theatre  every  night  for  two  weeks  if  she  wanted 
to,  and  hinted  at  unlimited  supplies  of  ice  cream, 
the  offering  with  which  he  and  Talcott  usually 
placated  their  respective  goddesses. 

After  a  short  railroad  journey  and  a  beautiful 
ride  of  a  few  miles  over  the  finest  of  roads,  the 
young  people  found  themselves  at  the  Lennox 
homestead.  It  was  a  large,  white  frame  house, 
with  the  conventional  green  blinds.  A  beautiful 
elm  stood  at  each  side  of  the  gateway,  the  far- 
spreading  branches  almost  sweeping  the  ground 
with  their  waving  tips.  The  path  to  the  front 
door  was  in  perfect  order  and  quite  unused,  the 
one  to  the  side  door  evidently  being  the  ordinary 
thoroughfare.  The  front  door  was  made  in  two 
cross-sections,  probably  a  remnant  of  colonial  times, 
when  it  was  necessary  to  "view  the  landscape 
o'er"  for  Indians  before  venturing  forth.  The 
lawn-mower  had  been  lately  called  into  requi- 
sition, and,  although  the  house  and  grounds  had 
an  appearance  of  comfort  and  hospitality,  the  pre- 


HALF  MARRIED.  l^ 

dominating  feature  was  that  one  of  "  orderliness 
or  death"  so  eminently  characteristic  of  New  Eng- 
land homes. 

Bessie  was  kindly  received  by  her  stern  mother- 
in-law,  but  as  she  found  herself  in  the  parlor, 
amid  the  haircloth  furniture,  ancient  mahogany 
table  placed  as  exactly  in  the  centre  of  the  room 
as  if  located  by  an  engineer,  worked  tidies  and 
spotless  Nottingham  curtains,  she  felt  like  the 
chief  of  sinners.  For  years  Lennox  never  tired 
of  telling  her  that  she  was  so  frightened  that  when 
she  took  off  her  jacket  she  actually  folded  it  care- 
fully and  laid  it  on  a  chair,  a  thing  she  had  never 
done  before  or  since. 

The  manners  of  the  household  had  somewhat 
softened  since  its  head  had  departed  from  this  land 
of  sorrows,  and  Bessie  found  it,  on  the  whole, 
quite  comfortable.  Only  two  sisters  were  at 
home,  the  others  settled  in  the  neighborhood. 
Bessie  wondered  if  they  would  all  call  upon  her. 

At  an  unusually  early  hour  Lennox  intimated 
that  she  must  be  very  tired,  and  she  should  say 
good-night.  Bessie  wonderingly  ascended  to  the 
"  east  room."  Lennox  followed,  telling  her  she 
had  outdone  herself  in  amiability,  and  that  she 

12* 


I3g  HALF  MARRIED, 

was  to  read  the  rest  of  the  evening,  leaving  the 
family  to  imagine  her  in  a  state  of  exhaustion. 

The  furniture  was  a  source  of  unending  delight. 
The  chest  of  drawers  almost  touched  the  low 
ceiling,  and  contained  enough  mahogany  to  finish 
off  a  fashionable  dining-room.  Some  of  the 
drawers  were  left  empty  for  Bessie's  accommoda- 
tion, while  the  others  were  full  of  any  extra  linen 
or  bedclothing  that  she  might  need.  The  quilts, 
towels,  and  all  lay  there  folded  as  if  they  had  just 
come  out  of  the  dry-goods  store,  yet  they  had 
been  in  that  house  for  years  and  years.  The  bed 
was  an  old  four-poster.  Bessie  had  read  of  them, 
but  had  never  seen  one  before.  It  was  hung 
around  with  a  remarkable  valance,  representing, 
in  red  and  white  calico,  a  scene  on  the  Thames 
near  London.  The  bed-curtains  corresponded, 
and  she  learned  afterwards  that  the  making  of  this 
and  two  similar  sets,  many  years  ago,  was  con- 
sidered an  era  in  the  manufacture  of  prints.  The 
bed  was  so  high  it  suggested  a  large  snow-drift. 
Her  pretty  eyes  were  reflected  back  to  her  from 
a  long,  narrow  glass  hanging  against  the  wall.  A 
small  square  was  barred  off  at  the  top  and  orna- 
mented with  one  of  those  remarkable  pictures  of 


HALF  MARRIED. 

a  weeping-willow  of  which  our  ancestors  were  so 
fond,  some  very  blue  water,  an  impossible  boat, 
and  several  figures  very  badly  out  of  drawing. 
Some  old  engravings  hung  perfectly  "  true"  on 
the  walls.  The  room  had  an  air  of  preternatural 
cleanliness. 

There  was  one  modern  article  in  the  room,  a 
beautiful  white  fur  mat.  Bessie  would  not  have 
put  her  foot  on  it  for  worlds,  and  carefully  stepped 
over  it  when  it  lay  in  her  course.  Her  presence 
in  this  sanctuary  seemed  a  profanation,  and  she 
imagined  the  consternation  three  or  four  pairs  of 
muddy  cavalry  boots  would  create  in  such  a 
household.  She  did  not  know  that  Abraham 
Lennox  used  always  to  take  his  muddy  boots  off 
before  he  entered  the  outside  door  that  led  into 
the  sitting-room. 

At  an  unconscionably  early  hour  Bessie  heard 
the  family  stirring.  She  woke  Lennox,  imagining 
some  one  was  ill  or  dying.  He  informed  her  it 
was  "  confounded  nonsense,"  and  deigned  no  fur- 
ther explanation.  He  afterwards  told  her  that  it 
was  the  hour  his  father  had  always  insisted  on 
calling  them,  and  they  still  kept  up  the  habit. 
Bessie  often  wondered  what  they  could  find  to  do 


HALF  MARRIED. 

that  made  them  think  it  necessary  to  rise  with  the 
sun. 

The  whole  connection  called  on  the  "  new 
couple."  Do  you  know,  dear  reader,  what  a  call 
in  the  country  means  ?  It  is  not  a  five  minutes' 
chat  about  the  weather  or  the  latest  novel.  It  is  a 
solemn  and  lengthy  ceremony.  If  you  are  the 
caller,  and  a  lady,  you  must  dispense  with  hat  and 
coat,  be  the  hat  ever  so  much  pinned  on  and  the 
coat  ever  so  tight  a  fit.  If  you  are  a  man,  your 
cane  and  hat  are  at  once  whisked  out  of  your 
keeping,  and  in  that  way  anything  like  retreat  is 
cut  off.  Your  bridges  are  burned  behind  you,  and 
all  you  can  do  is  to  make  yourself  as  agreeable  as 
possible  under  adverse  circumstances.  If  you  are 
a  lady  and  called  upon,  get  out  your  fancy  work 
and  your  patience.  If  you  are  a  man,  think  of  it 
as  a  punishment  for  your  misdeeds,  and  suffer 
calmly. 

As  Fred  Lennox  was  looked  upon  as  quite  a 
hero  and  fashionable  man  in  this  austere  com- 
munity, and  withal  something  of  a  backslider 
from  the  faith  and  manners  of  his  ancestors,  his 
wife  was  much  speculated  upon,  and  many  were 
the  visits  of  curiosity  as  well  as  of  friendship. 


HALF  MARRIED. 


141 


Lennox,  though  fearing  his  wife  would  be  awfully 
tired,  could  not  help  enjoying  her  perplexities. 

An  old  gentleman  asked  her  if  she  "  favored 
her  father  or  her  mother."  She  turned  to  Len- 
nox for  an  explanation  of  this,  to  her,  incompre- 
hensible question.  She  then  gently,  without  a 
smile,  said  she  was  considered  like  her  father;  her 
mother  was  fair  and  small,  and  had  been  dead 
many  years;  she  being  always  with  her  father, 
had  probably  grown  like  him. 

"  Was  you  with  him  much  ?" 

"Ah,  yes  indeed!  Would  you  be  astonished 
to  know  that  I  have  sometimes  slept  all  night  on 
the-  ground  rolled  up  in  a  blanket,  and  often  lived 
weeks  in  a  tent?  And  you  must  not  tell  any  one 
till  I  am  gone,  for  every  one  would  think  Mr. 
Lennox  had  brought  a  heathen  among  you.  I 
am  quite  a  good  shot  with  a  rifle  for  a  girl,  you 
know." 

Bessie  was  happy,  and  though  a  little  quieter  in 
manner  than  of  old,  her  old  playfulness  had  re- 
turned. The  old  gentleman  was  quite  captivated 
with  the  relation  of  a  few  little  adventures,  and  as 
he  rose  to  depart,  told  her,  admiringly,  "  I  never 
saw  any  one  so  entertaining  as  you  be." 


142 


HALF  MARRIED. 


These  people,  particularly  the  women,  were  a 
study  to  Bessie.  Many  of  them  so  worn  and  old 
at  an  age  when  the  army  women,  in  spite  of  their 
anxious  lives,  were  still  considered  desirable  part- 
ners for  the  rare  dances  and  frequent  rides. 

She  had  a  tender  feeling  towards  these  people, 
who  were  weighed  down  with  the  monotony  of 
their  lives.  Her  wish  to  please  was  so  entirely 
on  their  account  that  she  soon  won  their  hearts. 
She  could  not  get  over  her  astonishment  "  that 
people,  whose  clothes  looked  as  if  they  had  come 
out  of  the  ark,  had  read  everything." 

The  calls  had  been  made,  some  few  returned, 
and  the  last  day  of  their  stay  was  to  be  the 
"Fielding  gathering."  A  "gathering"  being  a 
New  England  institution,  Bessie  had  to  ask  for  an 
explanation.  She  found  that  it  was  to  be  a  re- 
union of  all  the  branches  of  the  Fielding  family 
in  the  United  States  at  the  old  Fielding  farm. 
The  present  John  was  the  sixth  generation  who 
had  lived  on  the  same  land.  The  present  Queen 
Anne  country-house  had  been  gradually  evolved 
from  the  log  cabin  of  the  emigrant  ancestor. 
This  family  had  been  in  bad  odor  for  two  or  three 
generations,  as  one  Fielding,  a  Church  of  England 


HALF  MARRIED.  l^ 

man,  had  espoused  the  Tory  cause  in  Revolution- 
ary times,  and  his  sufferings  for  King  George  are 
no  doubt  duly  recorded  in  "  Sabine."  In  the  old 
graveyard  the  pilgrim  ancestor  reposes,  with  this 
inscription  on  his  flat  tombstone  : 

"  Here's  a  cedar  tall,  gently  wafted  o'er 

From  Great  Britain's  Isle  to  this 
Western  shore. 

Near  fifty  years  crossing  the  ocean  wide, 
Yet  anchored  in  the  grave 

From  storm  or  tide. 
Yet  remember  the  body  is  only  here, 

His  blessed  soule  fixed  in  a 
Higher  sphere. 

Here  lies  the  body  of  Giles  Fielding 
Esquire,  aged 

67  years,  who  departed  this  life  the  first  day  of 
September,  Anno  Domino,  1689." 

The  descendants,  as  many  as  could,  of  this 
man,  were  to  meet  together  with  their  neighbors 
and  friends,  the  Lennox  family  among  the  rest. 

In  one  corner  of  the  farm  a  grove  of  maples 
remained,  and  the  ground  under  them  was  cleared 
until  it  was  clean  enough  for  a  floor.  Long 
boards  laid  on  "  horses"  were  covered  with  sheets 


HALF  MARRIED. 

to  make  the  table  and  loaded  down  with  refresh- 
ments. The  scene  was  a  characteristic  and  very 
pleasant  one. 

For  several  hours  the  different  vehicles  came 
winding  over  the  hills  from  all  directions  and  in 
all  varieties.  There  were  all  sorts  and  conditions 
of  conveyances,  from  the  spanking  team  of  some 
fashionable  New  Yorker,  who  made  it  a  duty  to 
spend  two  months  of  the  year  with  his  family  in 
the  old  homestead,  to  the  ancient  buggy  whose 
bulged  wheels  and  tattered  top  suggested  im- 
mediate dissolution.  The  large  parlor  was  used 
on  this  occasion.  Owing  to  the  traditions  of  the 
elders,  it  ordinarily  remained  hermetically  sealed, 
being  only  opened  for  funerals  and  weddings.  In 
it  were  representatives  of  four  generations  to  re- 
ceive the  guests,  the  oldest,  a  lady  of  ninety-two, 
still  in  possession  of  her  faculties,  and  the  young- 
est, a  tow-headed  child  of  three,  who  was  arrayed 
in  pantaloons  for  the  first  time,  and  whom  Len- 
nox declared  looked  as  graceful  as  a  young  cab- 
bage. 

By  noon  the  company  had  all  assembled,  and 
Bessie,  getting  a  little  apart,  was  really  entertained 
with  the  spectacle.  She  never  in  her  life  had 


HALF  MARRIED.  ^5 

seen  so  many  people  together  who  knew  each 
other,  such  different-looking  people  too,  and 
nearly  all  related.  A  fashionably-dressed  city 
miss  would  enthusiastically  embrace  a  sedate 
elderly  dame  in  a  gown  cut  in  a  style  years 
passed.  A  few  city  beaux  made  themselves  most 
agreeable  to  their  pretty  country  cousins.  Bessie 
became  quite  absorbed  in  watching  the  numerous 
by-plays.  One  of  these  young  gentlemen  saun- 
tered up  to  her  and  said, — 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  but,  as  we  are  all  relations, 
I  suppose  I  may  speak  to  you  without  an  intro- 
duction ?" 

"  Certainly  you  may  speak  to  me,  but  I'm  no- 
body's relation.  I'm"  (she  was  going  to  say  Miss 
Lansing)  "  Mrs.  Lennox,  only  here  on  sufferance ; 
that  is,  on  an  outsider's  invitation.  I  suppose  you 
are  a  Fielding  ?" 

"  Yes  ;  a  New  York  branch  of  the  family.  The 
rest  are  abroad,  and  I  was  delegated  to  represent 
them.  I  have  a  year  yet  in  college,  and  am  doing 
up  a  little  summer  studying." 

At  this  moment  Bessie  caught  sight  of  a  woman 
in  the  biggest  crinoline  she  had  ever  seen.  She 

was  ready  to  laugh  at  her,  but  this  solemn  and 
G       k  13 


I46  HALF  MARRIED. 

gentlemanly  youth  evidently  had  no  fun  in  his 
composition,  and  looked  mildly  shocked  at  Bessie's 
frivolous  comments.  Presently  an  enormous  bell 
sounded  from  the  grove,  and  the  whole  rank  and 
file  of  the  Fielding  army,  headed  by  the  great- 
grandmother,  walked  to  the  grove,  where  the  feast 
had  been  carefully  and  elaborately  prepared. 
Young  Fielding  escorted  Bessie;  her  husband, 
bent  on  making  himself  agreeable,  was  at  that 
moment  inviting  three  or  four  pretty  girls  to  go 
with  him  to  the  "spread."  Seeing  that  Bessie 
was  provided  for,  he  devoted  himself  to  his  admir- 
ing trio. 

Fielding  attended  minutely  to  Bessie's  wants, 
and  seemed  wrapt  in  a  sort  of  respectful  admira- 
tion for  her.  Though  he  was  city  bred  and  city 
educated,  he  had  an  air  of  ingenuousness  about 
him  that  at  first  one  did  not  know  whether  to  at- 
tribute to  real  innocence  of  the  world  and  its 
ways,  or  to  consider  it  as  assumed  for  particular 
occasions. 

Besides  the  many  people  "  like  everybody  else" 
near  the  table,  they  were  joined  by  two  or  three 
rather  peculiar-looking  women,  one  of  whom 
made  some  remark  about  "  garden  sass."  This 


HALF  MARRIED. 


147 


upset  Bessie's  long-suffering  risibilities,  and  she 
abruptly  left  the  group  to  smother  a  laugh. 

Now,  one  does  not  like  to  have  his  family 
laughed  at.  Fielding  would  not  have  shed  a  tear 
if  half  the  "  gathering"  had  then  and  there  been 
gathered  to  their  "  Pilgrim  ancestor,"  the  hero  of 
the  endless  speeches  of  the  day,  but  he  did  not 
relish  Bessie's  amusement,  and  told  her  so  with 
that  cool  effrontery  that  only  belongs  to  those 
plain-spoken  individuals  who  are  utterly  devoid 
of  the  sense  of  humor,  poor  things,  and  can  never 
be  counterfeited  by  the  simply  impudent. 

"  Mrs.  Lennox,  because  you  are  beautiful  and 
well  educated  is  no  reason  why  you  should  laugh 
at  those  less  fortunate  and  hurt  their  feelings." 

"  Mr.  Fielding,  I  never  intentionally  hurt  any 
one's  feelings  in  my  life.  I  have  seen  so  many 
funny  things  to-day,  you  do  not  know  how  hard 
it  has  been  for  me  to  keep  up  a  dignified  silence. 
Then  as  I  am  here  on  exhibition — my  wedding 
tour,  you  know — and  subject  to  criticism,  I  think 
I  have  a  right  to  retaliate  to  a  slight  extent.  I  am 
truly  sorry  if  I  have  offended  you." 

Bessie,  fearing  to  become  unpleasantly  conspic- 
uous by  Fielding's  prolonged  attentions  and  to  be 


148 


HALF  MARRIED. 


accused  by  her  proper  relations  of  a  flirtation  with 
Fielding  (she  might  as  well  have  tried  to  flirt  with 
the  old  well-sweep  on  his  ancestral  farm),  shot  a 
helpless  look  at  Lennox,  and  with  that  deceitful- 
ness  born  of  good  society  they  managed  to  slip 
away  unmissed  from  the  company,  but  not  before 
a  damsel,  whom  Lennox  had  captivated,  bestowed 
upon  him  a  bowl  of  honey  and  a  much-iced  cake. 
Fielding  had  also  seen  the  preparations  for  depart- 
ure, and  as  Bessie  was  arranging  her  skirts  in  the 
phaeton,  solemnly  handed  her  a  bunch  of  golden- 
rod  that  fairly  glistened  in  the  sunshine,  and  called 
forth  a  delighted  exclamation  of  "  How  beautiful ! 
how  good  of  you  !" 

On  the  road  home  Bessie  thought  how  hand- 
some Lennox  was  and  how  everybody  seemed  to 
admire  him.  She  was  very  proud  of  him,  but  did 
not  dare  to  tell  him  so.  She  held  him  a  little  in 
awe,  as  she  had  done  her  father  when  he  had  his 
dress  uniform  on.  They  fell  to  discussing  the 
day's  doings.  Bessie  thought  "  it  must  be  lovely 
to  be  one  of  a  large  family,  have  an  old  home- 
stead and  old  furniture."  Lennox  was  not  so  sen- 
timental, and  said  he  didn't  want  any  more  rela- 
tions than  he  had.  The  last  one  adopted  satisfied 


HALF  MARRIED. 


149 


him  completely.  He  did  not  want  to  claim  kin 
with  any  middle-aged  ladies  in  shiny  black  silks 
and  cameo  jewelry  that  talked  of  "  garden  sass" 
and  "  meetin'  seed." 

Bessie  shyly  intimated  that  the  three  damsels  he 
escorted  to  lunch  did  not  seem  to  be  conversing 
on  those  interesting  topics. 

"  Yes,  miss,  and  what  were  you  doing  with  that 
stylish  youth  with  the  sun  umbrella  and  kid 
gloves  ?" 

"  Doing?  I  was  receiving  lectures  on  my  frivo- 
lous doings  and  sayings.  I  shall  always  think  of 
that  young  gentleman  as  the  last  of  the  Puritans. 
He  is  a  real  city  man,  and  yet  is  as  ready  to  be 
shocked  as  if  just  let  out  of  a  convent." 

"  Do  young  men  of  the  monastic  persuasion 
generally  present  other  men's  wives  with  bou- 
quets ?" 

"  Fred,  if  you  don't  keep  still  I'll  tell  sister  Jane 
how  outrageously  you  flirted  with  that  pretty  girl 
that  gave  you  the  honey." 

"  Emblem  of  consistency  and  sweetness,"  added 
Lennox. 

The  next  morning  they  made  their  adieux  and 
left  early  for  the  six-mile  drive.  At  the  station 
13* 


150 


HALF  MARRIED. 


they  saw  the  mild-faced  "last  of  the  Puritans." 
Lennox  sedately  walked  into  the  smoking-car. 
Fielding  did  not  smoke,  so  Bessie  had  to  plead 
early  rising  as  an  excuse  for  weariness,  and  shut 
her  eyes  till  Fielding  had  become  drowsy,  and 
she  could  enjoy  unmolested  the  lovely  scenery 
that  they  were  flying  through.  Without  accident 
the  three  arrived  in  New  York  "  exactly  on  time," 
as  Fielding  thought  worth  while  to  inform  Bessie. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

DURING  their  engagement  Lennox  had  had  his 
eyes  open  in  regard  to  a  house,  and  soon  after  the 
return  home  from  the  wedding  journey  one  had 
been  decided  upon.  The  inhabitants  of  Carring- 
ton  called  it  an  old  barracks,  but  Bessie  developed 
quite  a  romantic  attachment  to  it.  It  was  sub- 
stantially built  of  stone,  and  in  New  England, 
where  wood  is  almost  universally  employed  for 
dwellings,  this  was  in  itself  remarkable,  and  par- 
ticularly so  as  the  house  had  been  built  sixty 
years  before.  The  rooms  were  large  and,  like  the 
main  building,  square.  A  wing  only  one  story 
high  spread  from  each  side  of  the  house ;  the 
roofs  of  the  wings  connecting  with  the  back 
veranda  made  a  piazza  one  hundred  feet  long 
and  fifteen  wide. 

The  house  had  a  cellar  and  sub-cellar.  In  the 
latter  an  alarmingly  unexpected  well  was  discov- 
ered. A  winding  staircase,  steep  and  strong  as 
that  of  a  light-house ,  twisted  itself  through  four 


'52 


HALF  MARRIED. 


stories  to  the  cupola.  A  door  on  each  landing 
was  the  only  way  of  communicating  with  that 
floor,  and  when  this  was  locked  the  "  flats"  were 
as  separate  as  in  any  new  apartment-house.  The 
rooms  were  square  until  reaching  the  third  story, 
then  they  were  divided  up  into  small  rooms, 
closets,  and  "  lockups."  One  mysterious  place 
filled  Bessie's  romantic  soul  with  awe.  Up  in  the 
garret  was  a  large  dark  closet  lined  with  boiler- 
iron,  and  the  door  was  iron,  with  heavy  bolt  and 
padlock.  She  made  this  melancholy  discovery 
herself,  and  almost  wept  as  she  imagined  it  the 
cruel  abode  of  some  afflicted  one  "  with  mind  dis- 
eased." After  Lennox  heard  the  sad  tale  he  in- 
formed her  it  was  a  smoke-house,  and  to  substan- 
tiate his  statement  showed  her  its  position  by  the 
chimney,  and  the  various  hooks  provided  for  the 
accommodation  of  beef  and  bacon. 

There  were  two  large  parlors,  the  wall-paper  of 
which  was  quite  remarkable.  In  the  front  room 
were  representations  in  gray  and  black  of  "  Lalla 
Rookh."  One  palm-tree  was  the  whole  height  of 
the  wall,  and  quite  dwarfed  the  camels,  pagodas, 
kiosks,  and  elephants,  which,  being  drawn  without 
the  slightest  regard  to  perspective,  clung  to  the 


HALF  MARRIED. 


153 


wall  like  flies.  In  the  back  parlor,  in  the  same 
style,  was  pictured  "  The  Lady  of  the  Lake."  It 
became  a  source  of  great  amusement  to  ask  peo- 
ple, unfamiliar  with  the  poem,  to  distinguish  be- 
tween dogs  and  goats,  fire  and  clouds,  etc.  It 
was  decided  that  these  peculiar  decorations  should 
remain  untouched.  Though  certainly  sombre  in 
color,  they  were  interesting  and  peculiar  in  effect. 
The  fireplaces  were  large  and  open,  and  the  man- 
tels very  high. 

When  young  Jack  Talcott  made  his  visits  Len- 
nox would  set  him  on  the  mantel-piece  for  an 
ornament,  and  the  child  found  himself  so  high  in 
the  air  he  dared  not  move  for  fear  of  falling  into 
the  fire. 

The  garden  was  a  tangle  of  weeds  mingled  with 
rare  trees  and  shrubs  that  had  survived  years  of 
carelessness  and  neglect.  Under  the  frame  of 
the  hot-house  great  black  Hamburg  vines,  with 
stems  as  thick  as  a  man's  wrist,  lay  frozen  to 
death  winters  ago.  Wall  peaches  there  were  that 
had  shared  the  same  fate. 

Above  the  first  piazza  was  another  large  porch, 
only  fifty  feet  long,  that  through  the  trees  gave  a 
beautiful  view  of  the  river. 


154 


HALF  MARRIED. 


Thus  the  back  of  the  house  was  pleasanter  than 
the  front,  though  that  looked  upon  a  street  lined 
with  double  rows  of  trees  which  met  overhead, 
forming  a  cool,  green  arcade  in  the  warmest  of 
August  weather. 

The  house  had  been  deserted  so  long  that  the 
squirrels  lived  under  the  veranda  roof,  the  bees 
made  honey  under  the  eaves,  and  the  untrimmed 
trees  were  full  of  birds,  the  little  English  "  ruffian 
in  feathers"  not  then  having  monopolized  the  ver- 
dant creation. 

Two  modern  improvements  Lennox  insisted 
upon, — a  furnace  and  a  modern  staircase.  "  Any 
man  might  break  his  leg  on  that  winding  stair- 
case, and  so  lose  his  reputation  for  sobriety  and 
temperance,  and  his  clients  at  the  same  time  and 
forever." 

The  grounds,  several  acres  in  extent,  were  put 
in  reasonable  order,  the  sad  vestiges  of  grapery 
and  hot-house  were  sodded  over,  and  the  melan- 
choly air  of  the  establishment  was  quite  done 
away  with. 

Lennox  bought  the  house  for  a  surprisingly 
small  sum,  and  Bessie  felt  a  new  experience  of 
pleasure.  For  the  first  time  she  lived  in  a  house 


HALF  MARRIED.  jcjij 

that  was  really  "  ours,"  and  where  she  expected  to 
remain.  It  was  big  and  substantial,  not  at  all  like 
the  small  sunny  house  considered  suitable  for 
bride  and  groom ;  but  as  Bessie  viewed  her  half- 
wild  garden,  the  river,  and  hills  from  her  upper 
gallery,  she  had  a  sense  of  freedom,  of  the  "  grand 
air"  that  she  would  not  have  had  in  more  con- 
tracted and  dainty  surroundings.  She  was  con- 
genially situated,  but — but — well,  she  would  have 
liked  to  have  seen  guard-mount  once  more. 

Residing  in  the  same  town  where  she  had  lived 
before  marriage,  Bessie's  slight  change  of  location 
made  no  change  in  her  friends.  All  were  on  the 
same  footing.  Before  she  had  been  married  many 
months  she  was  astonished  to  find  how  little  she 
had  of  Lennox's  society, — not  nearly  so  much  as 
during  her  engagement. 

One  wing  of  the  house  had  been  converted  into 
a  law-office,  and  though  he  was  always  near  at 
hand,  she  seldom  saw  him  except  at  table.  Even 
in  the  evenings  he  was  often  much  occupied.  Not 
having  a  tinge  of  jealousy,  he  was  constantly  ask- 
ing this  and  that  friend  to  look  after  Mrs.  Lennox 
at  such  and  such  an  entertainment.  He  would 
"  look  in  later."  It  was  often  just  a  "  look  in,"  and 


I56 


HALF  MARRIED. 


Bessie  came  and  went  in  a  more  independent  man- 
ner than  she  ever  had  when  a  girl.  Lennox  never 
having  been  much  of  a  society  man,  his  friends 
made  no  comments. 

Bessie  slowly,  sadly,  but  decidedly  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  she  was  not  at  all  necessary  to  her 
husband's  happiness.  That  he  had  unbounded 
confidence  in  her  she  was  sure.  That  he  admired 
her  was  beyond  question.  That  he  loved  her,  in 
a  way,  she  also  knew,  but  it  was  not  with  the  im- 
petuosity she  connected  with  the  idea  of  love. 
He  loved  her  as  he  loved  all  that  was  true,  pure, 
and  correct,  not  even  as  enthusiastically  as  he 
loved  his  profession.  By  degrees  this  idea  became 
familiar  to  her. 

They  had  been  living  some  months  in  their 
house  before  the  final  finishing  touches  were  put 
on  paint-work  and  walls,  and  at  last  Bessie  was 
able  to  arrange  her  room  in  the  old  way. 

One  morning,  while  dressing,  Lennox  made 
some  quiet  remark  about  her  father's  sword  not 
looking  very  appropriate  hanging  in  a  lady's  bed- 
room. Right  or  wrong,  Bessie  was  furious;  she 
turned  on  him  indignantly,  her  voice  trembling  as 
she  said, — 


HALF  MARRIED.  l^ 

"  Where  do  you  suppose  I'll  put  it  ?  Yours  I 
saw  at  your  mother's  among  some  old  lumber  in 
a  loft.  If  I  had  a  son  who  had  ever  carried  a 
sword  in  an  honorable  cause,  I  would  as  soon 
think  of  making  a  drinking-cup  of  his  skull  as  of 
throwing  aside  his  sword.  One  would  be  as  easy 
for  me  to  do  as  the  other." 

Her  eyes  flashed  a  look  of  hatred  at  her  hus- 
band as  she  walked  deliberately  out  of  the  room. 
Lennox  sank  into  a  chair  overwhelmed  with  sur- 
prise at  the  effect  of  his  words.  Bessie,  meantime, 
was  walking  up  and  down  on  the  other  side  of  the 
house  endeavoring  to  regain  her  composure.  She 
was  determined  Lennox  should  see  no  trace  of 
grief  or  tears  if  he  came  to  her. 

She  would  have  taken  down  the  sword  if  he 
had  asked  her  to  and  given  a  reason ;  but  to  walk 
roughshod  over  her  tenderest  sentiments  and  not 
be  aware  of  it  was  what  distressed  her.  If  he  had 
spoken  in  a  moment  of  irritation,  or  if  the  injury 
to  her  feelings  had  been  intentional,  she  could 
have  forgiven  him,  but  for  him  not  to  understand 
what  he  had  done  was  too  much.  She  regretted 
her  show  of  uncontrolled  temper,  but  made  up 
her  mind  she  would  never  look  to  him  for  sym- 


j^S  HALF  MARRIED. 

pathy  or  help,  come  what  would.  If  he  could 
walk  alone,  she  could  also. 

After  some  little  time  spent  in  a  vain  endeavor 
to  understand  matters,  Lennox  walked  over  to 
the  room  in  which  his  wife  was  standing,  and 
said, — 

"  You  must  know  that  I  did  not  mean  to  dis- 
tress you,  Bessie.  I  am  very  sorry." 

Bessie  was  so  genuinely  disappointed  and  un- 
happy that  without  an  effort  she  answered,  very 
gently,— 

"  Yes,  I  should  have  known  it.  Please  for- 
give my  bad  temper.  I  know  I  am  very  foolish 
about — about  the  few  reminders  I  have  of  a  happy 
past." 

She  said  "  happy  past"  as  if  she  expected  hap- 
piness in  this  world  no  more  forever.  Lennox 
waited  a  few  moments.  She  said  nothing  more, 
and  he  left  her.  Those  words  "  happy  past" 
burned  into  his  very  soul.  Though  he  did  not 
understand  her  indignation,  he  had  gone  to  her 
in  all  sincerity,  reproaching  himself  for  he  knew 
not  what.  As  he  left  her  he  felt  himself,  for  the 
first  time  in  his  life,  helpless  before  an  impending 
calamity.  Hitherto  he  had  always  been  sue- 


HALF  MARRIED. 

cessful.  Men  and  circumstances  had  bent  to  his 
purpose.  The  spirit  of  this  strong,  self-contained 
man  had  but  this  once  asked  for  bread.  It  was 
crushed  and  beaten  down  when  it  received  a 
stone. 

He  went  to  his  office  and  sat  with  his  head  in 
his  hands  for  the  bitterest  hour  of  his  life.  As 
the  last  golden  rays  of  the  evening  sun  poured 
through  his  window  he  rose,  and,  turning  his  face 
to  the  west,  said  aloud,  as  if  concluding  a  long 
train  of  thought,  "  Well,  then,  a  stone  let  it  be." 

Strange  as  it  was,  even  after  this  there  was  no 
break  between  these  two.  Bessie  was  guarded 
against  herself  and  never  surprised  into  unbe- 
coming conduct  again.  She  lived  to  herself,  and 
for  her  that  was  comparatively  easy  to  do, — not 
the  heart-breaking  thing  it  would  have  been  to 
some  women, — to  her  own  mother,  for  instance. 

Thus  time  went  on.  In  four  years  she  had  her 
two  children,  who  occupied  her  time  and  heart  so 
much  that  the  longings  and  disappointments 
would  be  stilled  for  a  time.  Lennox,  who  was  a 
most  exemplary  head  of  the  house,  felt  that  he 
too  was  walking  alone  in  a  shadow  cast  from  he 
knew  not  where.  He  was  steadily  coming  to  the 


HALF  MARRIED. 

front  in  his  profession.  Bessie,  by  her  pleasant 
manner  and  the  adaptability  coming  from  her 
peculiar  education,  helped  him  vastly  in  a  social 
way.  That  he  realized;  but  a  strange  feeling  of 
jealousy  came  over  him,  jealousy  in  a  wide  sense, 
a  jealousy  of  his  own  children,  of  the  world  in 
general.  All  found  his  wife  so  gracious,  so  lov- 
able. She  was  so  much  to  every  one  else,  but 
allowed  herself  to  be  so  little  to  him.  He  could 
not  say  where  the  matter  was.  She  never  neg- 
lected a  wish  of  his.  She  never  annoyed  him 
with  repeating  a  household  contretemps.  He  was 
the  most  domestically  unharassed  of  men,  and 
he  thought  himself  the  most  miserable.  Though 
truly  captivated  with  Bessie's  independence  and 
beauty,  he  had  rather  expected  a  partner  more 
confiding,  more  commonplace,  more  like  the 
women  he  knew  in  his  childhood  perhaps;  and 
she, — alas !  a  husband  more  after  the  lover  order. 
She  managed  the  house  and  business,  and  Len- 
nox always  approved  of  her  stewardship ;  but  she 
would  have  given  "  worlds"  (the  only  comparison 
women  have  when  love  is  the  thing  compared)  to 
have  had  him  tell  her  that  a  dress  was  becoming, 
or  even  that  it  was  not.  His  want  of  sentiment 


HALF  MARRIED.  ^1 

was  becoming  more  than  hard  to  bear :  it  was 
becoming  dangerous. 

There  was  to  be  a  party  at  Miss  Howard's,  wind- 
ing up  with  a  german, — quite  an  event  in  this  small 
city.  Bessie  had  been  engaged  for  the  german 
for  some  days,  but  hoped  to  go  to  the  company 
with  Lennox.  A  couple  of  days  before  the  event 
she  put  aside  her  pride  enough  to  say,  "  Fred,  you 
will  surely  go  to  Miss  Howard's  with  me,  won't 
you  ?  We  have  not  gone  out  together  and  come 
back  together  from  one  entertainment  this  winter." 
He  said  certainly  he  would,  but  at  noon  told  her 
that  an  old  lady  had  asked  him  to  look  after  her 
and  her  two  young  nieces.  There  was  no  one 
else  to  take  them.  She  was  an  old  friend  and  a 
client. 

"  I  told  her  you  always  had  more  admirers  than 
you  knew  what  to  do  with,  so  I  will  take  them. 
Besides,  I  knew  you  could  not  stand  going  out 
with  three  other  women." 

Bessie  said,  "  Eh  bien  ;  but  do  not  expect  me 
home  till  the  german  is  over." 

She  made  Lennox  write  to  her  partner  to  call 
for  her.  She  had  become  too  much  a  woman  of 

the  world  to  get  in  any  uncomfortable  entangle- 
l  14* 


ifa  HALF  MARRIED. 

ment,  particularly  when  entirely  indifferent  to  the 
entangler. 

That  evening  as  Lennox  left  her  to  escort  "  the 
old  woman,"  handsome,  well  dressed,  and  vigo- 
rous, as  the  door  closed  on  him  she  said  to  her- 
self, "  You  fool,  do  you  not  know  many  women 
are  driven  to  the  bad  by  less  than  this  ?  Thank 
heaven  I  have  two  children,  and  this."  And  for 
the  first  time  since  her  engagement  she  tied  War- 
ing's  cross  around  her  neck,  and  in  a  few  moments 
started  out  with  her  escort,  the  best  dancer  in  the 
town.  While  seated  during  the  german,  one  of 
the  ladies,  not  believing  in  monopolies,  turned  to 
Bessie  and  said, — 

"  Mrs.  Lennox,  how  devoted  Mr.  Huntington  is 
to  you,  and  yet  no  one  says  you  are  a  flirt.  They 
do  say  you  are  so  heartless  that  you  are  in  no 
danger." 

Bessie  controlled  herself  admirably.  "  How 
kind  of  them !"  was  her  only  reply  as  she  whirled 
off  again.  It  was  a  home-thrust,  this  unkind  re- 
mark, and  cut  deep.  She  could  not  forgive  Len- 
nox for  helping  expose  her  to  this  unjust  criticism. 

Huntington  escorted  her  to  her  house,  and  for 
a  long  time  she  sat  in  her  room  in  full  dress.  Len- 


HALF  MARRIED. 


163 


nox  had  retired  much  earlier,  and  to  the  other 
side  of  the  house,  so  as  not  to  be  disturbed  by  the 
late  arrivals. 

That  last  german  at  Fort  Granger  came  up  be- 
fore her.  It  seemed  so  many  years  ago — it  was 
six — that  the  tragic  side  had  almost  faded  from 
her  mind,  and  she  thought  of  it  in  a  measure  as  a 
childish  recollection.  But  as  she  took  off  the 
cross  the  tears  came  to  her  eyes,  and  she  tied  it 
again  around  her  neck.  All  his  keepsakes  she 
had  hitherto  kept  conscientiously  out  of  her  sight. 
She  had  never  heard  a  word  direct  from  Waring 
since  the  "  declaration  of  independence."  Now 
she  was  impelled  by  her  unhappiness  to  write  to 
him,  to  find  him,  to  know  if  he  still  thought  of 
her.  While  sitting  there  in  purposeless  thought, 
she  was  startled  by  seeing  the  morning  peeping 
through  the  clouds,  and,  partially  undressing,  flung 
herself  down  for  a  little  rest. 

At  breakfast  she  tried,  as  she  had  often  done 
before,  to  talk  to  her  husband  about  the  evening 
before.  He  had  little  to  say  about  social  affairs, 
and  Bessie -became  hopeless  about  entertaining 
him. 

Soon  after  this,  one  evening,  she  spoke  to  him 


164 


HALF  MARRIED. 


about  some  book.  Having  had  a  tiresome  and 
aggravating  day,  he  answered,  impatiently,  "  I  am 
tired  of  the  sight  and  name  of  books." 

Bessie  relapsed  into  silence,  and  wondered  if  he 
would  like  to  listen  all  day  to  the  cries  and  ques- 
tions of  small  children  and  the  twaddle  of  a  few 
callers,  and  not  want  a  change  too. 

She  had  brooded  over  her  troubles  until  she 
had  become  hypersensitive,  and  then,  woman- 
like, concluded  that  she  would  never  mention  the 
subject  again. 

Soon  two  or  three  of  the  habitues  came  in. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lennox  seldom  spent  an  evening 
alone.  As  Lennox  did  not  retire  to  the  office 
this  evening,  the  conversation  turned  upon  a  new 
publication.  In  the  midst  of  the  discussion  Bessie 
had  it  on  her  tongue's  end  to  cut  Lennox  by  say- 
ing that  he  did  not  like  literary  discussions  after 
six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  so  to  change  the 
subject,  but  her  nobler  impulses  prevailed  and  she 
said  nothing,  yet  Lennox  divined  what  was  passing 
in  her  mind. 

Bessie  was  more  than  ever  bright  and  witty  that 
evening.  The  visitors  left  in  high  spirits.  Lennox 
retired  to  his  office.  Life  looked  lonesome  and 


HALF  MARRIED. 


I65 


hopeless  to  him.  His  wife  was  charming  to  all 
but  him.  He  did  not  realize  that  he  did  not  ever 
let  her  try,  and  Bessie  looked  upon  him  as  non- 
understandable.  Being  so  strong  in  mind  and 
body  it  was  possible  that  he  wished  for  no  com- 
panionship, and  she  ceased  to  try  to  be  more  to 
him  than  a  good  housekeeper  and  pleasant  hostess. 
Yet  she  was  proud  of  him  and  admired  him  at  a 
distance.  Sadly  she  saw  her  life  was  a  failure. 
The  knowledge  that  it  was  a  fatality,  not  the  result 
of  any  intentional  sin  of  omission  or  commission 
on  her  part,  alone  gave  her  courage  to  bear  up 
under  her  burden. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

YOUNG  Fielding,  Lennox's  city  relative,  after  a 
couple  of  years  at  the  law,  for  which  he  was  not 
fitted,  had  decided  to  study  for  the  ministry. 
Fearing  the  distractions  of  the  city,  to  which  he 
was  really  not  in  the  least  addicted,  he  settled 
himself  to  study  with  Mr.  Talcott  in  Carrington, 
and  became  one  of  the  intimates  of  the  big  stone 
house.  Bessie  liked  him,  yet  he  gave  her  an  un- 
comfortable sensation.  He  watched  every  ex- 
pression and  action  of  those  about  him,  and, 
without  being  at  all  prying,  had  a  most  Jesuitical 
gift  of  reading  people.  Neither  brilliant  nor  pro- 
found, he  had  the  talent  of  closest  attention,  and, 
while  remaining  utterly  oblivious  to  the  great 
battles  of  life  and  society,  he  could  describe  the 
manoeuvres  of  some  few  skirmishers  with  the 
minuteness  of  a  detective.  In  spite  of  Bessie's 
being  handsome  and  brilliant  as  ever,  he  noticed 
an  indefinable  change.  Though  her  mouth  still 

laughed  and  showed  the  glistening  teeth,  the  gray 
1 66 


HALF  MARRIED. 


I67 


eyes  were  wider  open  and  often  sad,  and  she 
showed  an  almost  fierce  affection  for  her  chil- 
dren. 

Fielding  realized  that  he  had  before  him  that 
most  interesting  and  dangerous  of  studies,  a 
beautiful  woman  with  a  secret.  Without  the 
slightest  wish  to  force  his  way  into  this  skeleton 
closet,  he  wished  very  much  that  the  key  was 
turned.  His  curiosity  was  by  no  means  a  selfish 
one.  From  a  combination  of  peculiar  circum- 
stances— his  mother's  being  an  invalid  for  years 
was  one  of  them — he  had  passed  a  most  un- 
happy childhood.  Thus  he  was  instinctively 
drawn  towards  those  who  suffered.  He  saw  very 
shortly  that  his  friend  was  unhappy.  To  do  him 
justice,  he  would  have  discovered  it  had  she  been 
neither  young  nor  lovely.  Bessie  knew  by  the 
way  he  looked  at  her  that  he  was  divining  her 
secret,  and,  more  for  Lennox's  sake  than  her  own, 
appeared  particularly  lively  and  gay  when  the 
"  last  of  the  Puritans"  formed  one  of  the  cosey 
group,  and  hoped  that  she  would  never  be  sur- 
prised into  betraying  herself. 

The  spring  came,  and  with  it  a  change  of  pros- 
pects for  Lennox.  He  had  a  first-rate  oppor- 


!68  HALF  MARRIED. 

tunity  to  go  to  New  York,  and  was  ready  to  take 
it  if  Bessie  would  agree  and  could  contentedly 
live  within  four  contracted  brick  walls.  He  al- 
ways consulted  her  in  regard  to  his  affairs.  She 
said  that  what  was  best  for  him  professionally  was 
of  course  her  pleasure,  and  though  she  looked 
with  dread  on  the  restraints  of  city  life,  showed  no 
sign  of  faltering.  After  all,  it  did  not  make  much 
difference  where  she  was.  It  mattered  to  no  one 
but  the  children.  Waring  must  long  ago  have 
ceased  to  care.  If  the  man  to  whom  she  had 
given  all  she  could  give  found  in  her  only  an 
ordinarily  good  housekeeper  and  mother  for  his 
children,  of  course  she  was  nothing  to  this  boy 
after  all  these  years.  But,  then,  had  he  not  said 
"  forever"  ? 

As  the  flitting  was  to  be  in  the  fall,  all  summer 
the  piazzas,  by  night  and  day,  were  lively  with  the 
many  friends  desiring  to  have  as  much  of  Bessie's 
society  as  possible  before  her  departure. 

One  evening  as  the  Talcotts,  Miss  Howard, 
Huntington,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lennox  were  watching 
the  darkening  shadows  on  hills  and  river,  and 
Bessie's  thoughts  were  far  away,  Fielding  ap- 
peared suddenly  with  a  large  bunch  of  violets. 


HALF  MARRIED. 


169 


With  his  usual  directness  of  action  he  presented 
them  all  to  Bessie,  entirely  ignoring  the  other 
ladies.  They  and  the  gentlemen  exchanged 
amused  glances.  Bessie  was  brought  back  sud- 
denly from  her  dreamings,  and  colored  a  little  as 
Fielding  handed  her  the  flowers,  for  they  fitted 
in  so  aptly  with  the  subject  of  her  reveries.  She 
found  a  vase  to  receive  them,  and  placed  them  on 
a  little  stand,  part  of  the  piazza  furniture.  Field- 
ing had  his  back  to  the  table,  and  as  Huntington 
walked  back  and  forth  he  would  pose  in  apparent 
ecstasy  before  the  flowers,  casting  ludicrously 
hopeless  glances  at  Bessie.  Lennox  and  all  the 
rest  saw  the  performance.  Fielding  was  the  only 
one  who  could  not  see  the  fun.  Bessie  was  afraid 
he  might  see,  and,  having  no  sense  of  humor, 
would  be  mortally  offended ;  so  she  managed,  by 
rising  and  calling  Huntington's  attention  to  a  par- 
ticular sunset  effect,  to  rearrange  the  group  and 
cause  her  friends  to  settle  down  to  good  behavior. 
Lennox  and  Huntington  retired  for  some  busi- 
ness talk,  and  at  length  all  had  gone  but  Fielding. 
Bessie  thanked  him  again  for  the  bouquet.  He 
asked  her  why  she  did  not  put  them  in  her  belt  as 
she  did  other  flowers.  The  question  was  unex- 
H  15 


HALF  MARRIED. 

pected.  She  could  not  tell  him  "  because  years 
ago  some  one  used  to  give  me  violets,"  so  she 
answered,  "  I  am  very  fond  of  them,  but  I  would 
dislike  to  wear  them, — I  never  do." 

Fielding  thought,  "  Here  is  a  clue  to  the  discon- 
tent or  whatever  it  may  be." 

"  Mr.  Fielding,  isn't  this  beautiful  ?  How 
dreadful  to  leave  this  lovely  view  and  picturesque 
old  home  for  a  house,  a  mere  slice  in  the  wall 
like  everybody  else's  slice,— to  hear  your  next 
neighbor  take  off  his  boots  every  night  for  years 
and  not  even  know  his  name !  You  do  not  know 
what  a  trial  it  is  to  me." 

"  Why  don't  you  tell  Mr.  Lennox  ?  Perhaps  he 
would  not  go  if  he  knew  how  you  felt  about  it." 

"  Oh,  he  asked  me  if  I  was  willing  to  go.  Of 
course  I  would  not  let  him  think  for  a  moment 
that  I  was  not.  The  life  will  not  be  a  very  con- 
genial one  to  me.  You  know  I  am  half  a  savage. 
A  man's  object  in  life  is  his  profession,  and  I 
would  never  stand  in  the  way  of  that." 

After  a  pause,  she  added, — 

"Women  have  ambition  and  love  success  too. 
I  am  quite  equal  to  giving  up  my  home,  this 
lovely  view,  perhaps  even  my  friends,  without  a 


HALF  MARRIED. 


171 


murmur  for  my  husband's  success;  but  for  failure, 
ugh,  how  it  would  gall  me !"  And  she  stirred  un- 
easily in  her  chair. 

Fielding  wrongly  surmised  that  Bessie  had 
married  Lennox  for  his  brilliant  reputation,  and 
was  perhaps  only  receiving  her  deserts. 

"  Mrs.  Lennox,  it  distresses  me  to  hear  you 
speak  in  this  worldly  way ;  you  did  not  talk  so 
years  ago  when  I  first  met  you, — a  stranger  would 
think  you  had  no  heart." 

"  Mr.  Fielding,  I  am  much  older  than  I  was 
then  and  know  more.  A  heart  is  a  great  incum- 
brance,  and  the  sooner  it  is  disposed  of  the  better. 
There  come  the  other  gentlemen,  so  I  will  not 
have  an  opportunity  to  horrify  you  again  this 
evening." 

These  four  night-hawks  remained  yet  some 
hours  out  of  doors.  When  the  two  married 
people  were  left  together  they  discussed  the  New 
York  plan  in  a  matter-of-fact  way.  To  have 
heard  them  one  would  have  imagined  them  sim- 
ply good  friends  talking  over  their  business  mat- 
ters. Lennox  said  his  office  there  would  be  out 
of  the  house,  perhaps  miles  away,  would  she  not 
be  lonesome  ? 


HALF  MARRIED. 

The  words  were  on  her  lips,  "  When  have  I  not 
been  lonesome  ?"  but  she  checked  them :  "  Oh,  no, 
with  the  children,  housekeeping,  and  books"  (and 
added,  mentally,  memories),  "  I  will  be  quite  con- 
tented." 

Lennox  had  hoped  that  at  least  she  would  say 
she  would  miss  having  him  near  her.  He  could 
not  gain  an  inch  in  her  affections,  yet  he  could 
complain  of  nothing.  All  the  household  affairs 
were  conspicuously  arranged  for  his  convenience. 
The  attentions  she  received  from  other  gentlemen 
he  more  than  approved  of;  in  fact,  they  saved 
him  time  and  trouble.  Without  a  show  of  weari- 
ness she  called  on  and  entertained  any  of  the 
"heavy  artillery"  there  was  reason  or  policy  in 
propitiating.  More  than  once  he  said  that  one- 
third  of  his  success  was  due  to  the  strength  of 
his  own  right  arm,  the  other  two-thirds  due  to  his 
wife.  He  loved  her,  but  she  disappointed  him. 
Once  long  ago  he  had  a  dim  ideal  of  what  his 
wife  should  be.  Now  it  rose  distinctly  before 
him.  She  should  be  loving,  pliant,  above  all 
absorbed  in  him  personally,  his  own  to  be  loved, 
not  the  world's  to  be  admired. 

Bessie  felt  his  disappointment  long  before  he 


HALF  MARRIED.  l^ 

did,  and  after  conscientiously  trying  to  find  the 
cause  and  failing,  gave  it  up  as  hopeless.  And  as 
even  the  love  of  children  cannot  fill  even  a  good 
woman's  heart,  she  allowed  her  remembrance  of 
the  young  lieutenant  to  become  to  her  a  romance, 
a  leading  idea.  Once  she  longed  for  and  re- 
gretted him,  as  she  had  done  her  father  and  the 
incidents  of  her  past  life.  Now,  she  regarded 
him  as  the  one  alone  in  all  the  world  who  cared 
for  her  welfare  or  happiness.  She  found  her  ac- 
tions more  guided  by  "  what  would  Charlie  say  or 
think"  than  by  any  motive  less  remote.  True  to 
her  promise,  she  had  kept,  as  well  as  she  could, 
the  run  of  him,  and  had  never  yet  heard  of  any- 
thing to  his  discredit.  From  Mr.  Arthur  she 
heard  at  rather  long  intervals.  In  fact,  he  had 
lately  written  that  Waring  was  sobriety  itself;  he 
had  turned  scientist  to  some  extent,  and  had  re- 
ceived an  honorary  membership  to  a  noted  Eng- 
lish geological  society  in  consequence  of  some 
learned  article  he  had  written  on  the  lava-beds  of 
Idaho.  He  had  also  gained  the  reputation  of 
being  the  greatest  flirt,  or  more  strictly  speaking, 
the  most  graceful  and  successful  defender  of  his 

bachelor  freedom,  in  that  branch  of  the  service ; 

15* 


HALF  MARRIED. 

the  vain  efforts  of  various  young  ladies  to  secure 
"  a  button's  worth"  of  attention  being  quite  a  di- 
version to  his  brother  officers. 

"  There  is  still,"  Arthur  wrote,  "  after  all  these 
years,  a  mysterious  story  of  a  disappointment,  and 
these  fair  charmers  consider  this  report  as  a  chal- 
lenge, and  have  tried  to  bring  him  up  to  time  on 
several  occasions.  One  very  warm  day,  at  a  pic- 
nic, he  threw  back  his  coat  for  a  little  air.  The 
little  bayonet  that  he  always  wears  pinned  under 
his  coat  was  exposed  to  view.  One  of  these  girls, 
very  lacking  in  tact — (fortunately,  such  are  few  and 
far  between),  called  out  so  as  to  attract  the  atten- 
tion of  the  whole  party,  '  Oh,  Mr.  Waring,  is  that 
the  charm  that  has  made  you  invulnerable  all  these 
years,  or  are  you  the  victim  of  some  gay  deceiver  ?' 
Most  of  us  held  our  breath.  Knowing  Waring's 
temper  we  feared  his  answer,  but  he  has  learned 
self-control.  He  replied  quite  carelessly,  '  Don't 
imagine  me  the  hero  of  a  romance.  I  have  never 
been  deceived, — that's  the  correct  term,  is  it  not  ? 
I  cannot  claim  sympathy  on  that  score.  Once  when 
I  was  very  little  I  cried  and  kicked  so  hard  for  the 
moon  that  my  gentle  mamma  made  me  one  of 
yellow  flannel,  and  it  had  to  answer  the  purpose. 


HALF  MARRIED. 


175 


When  I  was  older  I  once  again  cried  for  the  moon. 
I  got  this  to  keep  me  quiet,  and  it  has  effectually. 
Some  day  when  I  resign  on  my  laurels  and  a  rich 
wife's  money,  I  am  going  to  have  a  coat  of  arms, 
moon  d'argent,  heart  rampant.'  Waring,  with  his 
forage-cap  on  the  back  of  his  curly  head,  his  small 
feet  (he  is  as  vain  of  them  as  ever)  in  a  conspicu- 
ous position,  his  blond  moustache  and  dark  eye- 
brows both  turning  up  at  the  corners,  looked  the 
very  personification  of  mischief.  I  know  that  girl 
was  mystified  entirely.  She  does  not  know,  nor 
we  either,  whether  he  cherishes  the  memory  of  a 
certain  young  lady,  whom  we  all  loved  more  or 
less,  or  whether  he  is  quite  indifferent  and  has 
chosen  science  for  his  only  mistress.  This  par- 
ticular young  lady  was  very  rich,  and  we  imagined 
when  she  left  the  fort  she  went  away  very  sorrow- 
ful." 

Arthur  would  have  been  horrified  had  he  known 
he  was  helping  rekindle  an  old  flame.  His  letter 
fitted  in  only  too  well  with  Bessie's  frequent  rev- 
eries on  the  broad  gallery  in  the  moonlight. 

Before  leaving  their  house  Lennox  said  they 
must  give  a  party.  It  was  to  be  a  large  affair,  and 
all  mere  social  obligations  would  be  paid  off,  so 


176 


HALF  MARRIED. 


that  he  would  leave  town  with  a  clear  social  con- 
science,— the  only  variety  of  conscience,  he  re- 
marked, which  lawyers  were  supposed  to  have. 

Fielding  looked  aghast  at  this  piece  of  impiety 
coming  from  a  Christian  and  a  vestryman.  He 
could  not  understand  these  people.  That  they 
were  doing  good  in  their  day  and  generation,  and 
never  turned  their  handsome  faces  from  any  poor 
man,  was  certain,  but  their  remarks,  taken  by  him 
literally,  were  sources  of  dismay  and  subjects  of 
prayer. 

About  this  time  he  undertook  to  break  Fred 
Jr.  of  calling  his  mother  "  Bessie"  (a  disrespectful 
habit),  and  gave  the  mamma  a  solemn  "  talking  to" 
about  taking  the  child  to  church. 

Bessie  said  he  was  too  young  to  behave  him- 
self, but  Fielding  seemed  so  truly  distressed  about 
the  matter  that  she  consented  to  take  the  boy,  if 
he  would  sit  with  her  and  see  the  result  of  the 
experiment.  Lennox  was  to  be  in  New  York  the 
next  Sunday  and  would  not  be  annoyed  at  any 
denouement,  so  if  it  was  pleasant  the  boy  should 
go.  Sunday  came,  and  Master  Fred  was  arrayed 
in  spotless  white.  He  had  on  as  few  clothes  as 
possible,  the  day  being  warm.  The  child,  with 


HALF  MARRIED. 

his  dark  eyes  and  fair  hair,  looked  a  perfect  cherub. 
He  sat  perfectly  still  for  some  time.  Fielding  was 
pluming  himself  upon  his  success  in  "  bringing  up 
a  child  in  the  way  it  should  go,"  and  Bessie  was 
alarmed  at  the  unnatural  quiet  of  "  No.  I,"  that 
calm  stage  being  usually  the  precursor  of  trouble. 

Some  time  before  Master  Fred  had  conceived 
an  admiration  for  the  handsome  contralto  in  Mr. 
Talcott's  choir,  so,  after  his  quiet  spell,  he  pro- 
posed visiting  her  then  and  there.  He  was  given 
firmly  to  understand  that  that  was  not  to  be 
thought  of,  and  he  quieted  down  again,  but  in  a 
few  moments  the  congregation  were  startled  by  a 
crack  like  the  report  of  a  pistol,  and  people  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  the  Lennox  pew  put  their 
handkerchiefs  to  their  faces  as  if  suddenly  seized 
with  a  severe  toothache. 

Fred,  in  his  desire  to  be  big,  and  see  his  "  lady 
luf,"  had,  while  Fielding  was  deep  in  his  devotions, 
placed  that  gentleman's  new  silk  hat  on  the  seat, 
and  seated  himself  on  the  upturned  crown.  The 
fabric  gave  way  with  a  report  that  startled  the 
child  and  amused  the  assembly. 

The  boy  was  then  given  a  purse,  and  amused 
himself  so  quietly  that  he  was  again  forgotten. 


178 


HALF  MARRIED. 


But  after  a  short  time  Fielding,  looking  down  in 
the  bottom  of  the  pew,  saw  a  sight  that  caused 
his  proper  heart  to  cease  to  beat.  This  small 
cherub  had  begun  to  undress  himself!  The  little 
socks  and  slippers  were  carefully  placed  on  a 
kneeling-cushion,  and  the  little  blouse  shirt,  open- 
ing in  front,  was  unbuttoned,  and  that  with  the 
attached  kilt  being  dropped  off,  would  leave  little 
to  be  dispensed  with.  Poor  Fielding  clutched 
at  Bessie's  sleeve  and,  with  speechless  horror, 
pointed  to  the  small  sinner.  Between  amusement 
and  annoyance  the  mamma  was  almost  hysterical. 
She  managed  to  redress  the  culprit,  and  at  a  con- 
venient place  in  the  service  escorted  him  home. 

Fielding's  efforts  at  introducing  reforms  into 
the  Lennox  family  were  the  source  of  much  fun, 
and  Lennox  had  a  great  deal  to  say  about  "  bach- 
elors' children." 

Bessie  gave  her  party,  and  it  was  a  great  suc- 
cess. To  her  delight  some  of  her  old  friends 
were  in  New  York  and  came  down  to  it,  among 
them  Arthur,  and  he  was  to  spend  ten  days  of 
his  precious  leave  with  them. 

The  evening  of  the -entertainment  the  grounds 
were  hung  with  lanterns,  the  piazzas  arranged 


HALF  MARRIED. 

with  drapery,  tables,  chairs,  and  rugs,  the  supper 
managed  by  a  caterer,  and  Bessie  found  all 
things  arranged  with  less  trouble  than  she  ex- 
perienced at  the  fort  in  entertaining  a  dozen 
intimate  friends.  Lennox  looked  very  handsome 
and  dignified  as  he  stood  with  Bessie  to  receive 
his  guests.  No  one  would  have  suspected  him 
of  the  convulsing  remarks  he  was  making  in  his 
wife's  ear.  Her  charming  smile  was  oftcner  the 
result  of  his  witty  sallies  than  from  the  pleasure 
derived  from  meeting  her  acquaintances.  He 
could  always  command  her  admiration  if  nothing 
more. 

After  the  guests  had  gone,  the  host  and  hostess 
and  Lennox's  more  intimate  gentlemen  friends 
(who  had  returned  after  going .  home  with  the 
young  ladies)  seated  themselves  to  have  their 
supper  without  interruption  and  finish  up  the  rest 
of  the  night,  or  morning.  Lennox,  not  wishing 
to  go  against  public  sentiment,  had  no  wine  at  his 
reception,  but  now  cigars  and  champagne  were 
brought  forth. 

When  Arthur  and  Bessie  would  begin  their 
reminiscences,  Lennox  would  put  on  a  pathetic 
expression  and  ask  how  far  they  had  gotten 


l8o  HALF  MARRIED. 

through  the  history,  personal  and  family,  of  every 
man  in  the  service,  and  that  he  would  be  driven 
to  desperation,  or  Canada,  if  they  continued. 

Arthur  had  arrived  only  a  day  or  two  before, 
so,  though  Bessie  had  asked  him  a  multitude  of 
random  questions,  she  had  got  no  detailed  ac- 
count of  anybody. 

After  their  supper  was  finished  she  said, — 
"  Mr.  Arthur,  our  brilliant  conversation  is  lost 
on  these  civilians,  who  pride  themselves  on  their 
'souls  above  buttons.'     I  suggest  that  we  retire 
to  the  other  end  of  this  piazza." 

"  Cavalry  to  the  front,"  interrupted  Lennox. 
"When  I  have  exhausted  you  with  questions 
cry  quarter,  and  I'll  release  you." 

They  seated  themselves  comfortably,  and,  after 
a  little  teasing  from  the  group  at  the  other  end 
of  the  gallery,  nearly  a  hundred  feet  off,  were 
allowed  to  talk  over  old  times  without  interrup- 
tion. 

After  some  conversation,  Arthur  said, — 

"  Miss  Bessie,  you  have  changed  considerably." 

As  she  leaned  her  head  on  her  hand,  her  elbow 

supported  by  the  railing,  she  was,  in   the  pale 

starlight,   ethereally   beautiful.      Her    dress    was 


HALF  MARRIED.  181 

light  blue  silk  and  white  lace,  that  seemed  to 
blend  with  the  starlight  and  shadows  of  the 
night.  Her  hair  now  was  in  a  low,  loose  coil, 
so  much  more  becoming  than  the  disfiguring 
chignon  of  her  girlhood.  It  was  the  reign  of 
"  tie-backs,"  and  her  dress  seemed  fitted  from 
shoulder  to  train.  Arthur  thought  he  had  never 
seen  a  more  beautiful  woman,  and  his  heart  ached 
for  his  messmate.  He  felt  a  pride  in  her,  too,  as 
one  of  "  ours."  What  city  could  turn  out  a  piece 
of  physical  perfection  like  hers,  and  where  could 
be  found  a  soul  more  noble  and  good? 

"  Yes,  unfortunately,  one  cannot  be  twenty- 
seven  years  old  and  the  mother  of  two  children 
and  look  the  same  as  at  nineteen.  You  aggra- 
vating men  improve  as  you  grow  older.  We  poor 
women  are  doomed  so  early  to  become  old  and 
uninteresting." 

"  I  did  not  mean  that  you  had  fallen  off  in  your 
looks.  You  have  not.  (Do  not  get  one  of  your  old 
attacks  of  dignity,  for  I  mean  to  continue.)  You 
seem  more  human  than  you  used  to.  You  do  not 
look  languid  or  worn,  but  now  I  can  imagine  you 
really  tired  and  willing,  under  some  circumstances, 

to  be  helped  a  little.   At  times  your  untiring  energy 
16 


lS2  HALF  MARRIED. 

used  to  be  a  little  overwhelming.  You  seemed  to 
drive  all  before  you  instead  of  inspiring  all  to  fol- 
low. When  the  chaplain  came  to  Fort  Derby,  he 
casually  remarked  that  he  would  '  rather  be  Miss 
Lansing's  Prayer  Book  than  her  shoes,'  but  when 
he  saw  the  much-worn  condition  of  that  ancient 
relic  which  you  used  to  affect,  he  concluded  you 
must  have  had  personal  encounters  with  his  sable 
majesty,  a  la  St.  Dunstan,  and  used  the  book  in 
lieu  of  pincers.  Indeed,  you  strike  me  as  being 
more  lovely,  if  I  may  use  a  much-abused  adjective, 
than  of  yore,  and  Mr.  Lennox  must  be  a  happy 
man." 

Arthur  had  never  been  a  flatterer,  and,  in  fact, 
by  his  just  and  open  criticisms,  had  done  much 
in  old  days  to  "  keep  her  head  level,"  as  he  ex- 
pressed it. 

Bessie  had  not  heard  a  word  of  honest  praise 
for  so  long  that  at  this  her  eyes  filled  with  tears. 
Apparently  her  husband  considered  her  either 
above  or  beneath  comment,  and  Fielding  lectured 
her  as  one  of  the  spiritually  unwashed. 

"  Mr.  Arthur,  it  is  very  kind  of  you  to  praise 
me.  I  hope  I  may  always  deserve  it." 

He  detected  a  peculiar  emphasis  on  the  always. 


HALF  MARRIED. 

At  this  juncture  Fielding  appeared,  and  Arthur 
gave  place  to  him.  Fielding,  with  his  microscopic 
vision,  saw  the  tears  in  Bessie's  eyes.  Not  want- 
ing to  say  anything  personal,  he  rather  mechanic- 
ally remarked, — 

"  Mrs.  Lennox,  I  have  written  my  first  sermon." 

"  Yes  ;  and  what  is  the  text  ?  I  mean  subject ; 
I  hate  texts." 

"Well,  it's  about  answering  prayer." 

"  Nonsense!"  she  said,  fiercely  and  unexpectedly. 
"  Whose  prayers  are  answered,  and  what  do  you 
know  about  prayers  ?" 

One  foot  beat  the  floor  impatiently. 

Fielding  saw  that  he  had  raised  a  spirit  not 
easily  laid,  and  answered,  timidly, — 

"  Why,  Mrs.  Lennox,  do  you  think  I  have  never 
prayed  ?" 

"  I  don't  know ;  but  I  do  know  that  for  six  or 
seven  years  /  have  prayed  for" — she  did  not  know 
what  to  say, — happiness  ? — love  ? — Charlie  War- 
ing?— none  of  the  multitude  of  words  that  flew 
through  her  mind  expressed  the  idea,  so  she  said, 
in  desperation,  "  a  man's  soul,"  and  burst  into 
tears. 

Fielding's  kind  face  paled  before  this,  to  him, 


HALF  MARRIED. 

terrible  revelation.  He  was  astonished  that  she 
would  acknowledge  to  him,  to  any  one,  that  she 
needed  help  from  even  a  source  divine.  The  fact 
that  she  had  prayed  so  long  for  anything  or  any 
one  showed  a  sincerity  of  devotion  he  had  never 
imagined  possible  in  a  woman  who  wore  clinging 
dresses  and  drank  champagne.  Still,  there  was 
something  shocking  to  him  in  the  idea  of  a  wife's 
praying  so  long  and  so  earnestly  for  a  man  not 
her  husband. 

To  pray  for  the  unregenerate  and  heathen  in 
the  aggregate  was  a  laudable  occupation  to  be  en- 
couraged, but  to  pray  for  one  especial  heathen,  par- 
ticularly if  he  wore  a  United  States  uniform,  as 
Fielding  suspected  to  be  the  case,  was  an  entirely 
different  affair. 

Good  reader,  you  will  find  proprieties  and  relig- 
ion often  conflicting.  By  what  moral  theodolite 
will  you  determine  the  boundary-line  where  pray- 
ers for  lovers  should  cease  and  those  for  husbands 
begin  ? 

Fielding  pictured  to  himself  a  hardened  sinner, 
even  a  criminal,  as  the  object  of  these  interces- 
sions. Arthur  at  once  came  to  his  mind  as  in 
some  way  connected  with  Bessie's  tearful  eyes. 


HALF  MARRIED.  ^ 

But,  no.  He  had  been  to  a  week-day  service,  and 
had  not  the  air  generally  of  one  of  the  hopelessly 
lost. 

Bessie  quickly  regained  her  composure,  and, 
saying  that  she  was  desperately  tired  and  must 
have  some  rest,  walked  with  Fielding  over  to  the 
others. 

"  Now,  gentlemen,  you  are  welcome  to  spend 
the  morning  on  this  veranda,  but  I  am  going 
inside.  We  are  to  have  a  shad-bake  to-morrow. 
Mr.  Arthur  is  to  be  initiated  into  a  real  New  Eng- 
land pleasure." 

A  volley  of  questions  were  hurled  after  her  re- 
garding the  time  and  place.  She  refused  to  notice 
them  as  she  entered  the  door-way.  The  gentle- 
men, fearing  the  expedition  would  be  at  an  early 
hour,  hastily  shoved  back  their  chairs,  threw  away 
their  cigars,  and  disappeared  into  their  various 
rooms. 


1 6* 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

THEY  were  not  up  with  the  sun  the  following 
morning,  and  by  the  time  they  appeared  for  a 
very  late  breakfast  the  house  had  quite  regained 
its  every-day  appearance. 

Mr.  Arthur  was  quite  anxious  to  know  what  a 
"shad-bake"  was.  The  only  satisfaction  he  got 
was  that  one  who  had  not  been  to  a  shad-bake 
had  lived  in  vain. 

The  party  assembled  in  the  Lennox  parlors. 
There  were  the  Talcotts,  Huntington,  Arthur, 
and  two  or  three  young  ladies.  Fielding  and 
Miss  Howard  were  in  her  phaeton  and  loaded 
down  with  numerous  wraps,  baskets,  buckets,  and 
the  usual  paraphernalia  of  picnickers.  Arthur  de- 
clared he  could  carry  on  a  summer's  campaign 
against  the  Apaches  with  half  the  baggage. 
The  party  wended  their  way  towards  the  river, 
a  jolly,  picturesque  group.  The  gentlemen  were 
comfortable  in  dark  blue  suits,  and  the  ladies  in 

blue  boating-dresses  and  sun-hats,  all  but  Bessie. 
186 


HALF  MARRIED. 

She  had  put  on  an  old  forage-cap  to  torment  Mr. 
Arthur,  who  had  grown  more  of  an  old  bachelor 
than  ever. 

They  soon  reached  the  wharf  and  were  waiting 
for  Fielding.  He  and  Miss  Howard  had  been 
sent  after  the  ice,  and  evidently  the  iceman  had 
proved  obdurate  or  hard  to  find.  At  last  they 
appeared  coming  down-hill  at  an  undignified  pace. 
During  this  detention  Arthur  had  had  time  to 
look  around  upon  his  surroundings. 

At  the  foot  of  the  wharf  he  saw  a  natty  little 
steam-launch  hardly  large  enough  to  be  called  a 
yacht,  but  large  enough  to  be  able  to  accommo- 
date the  entire  party  for  an  afternoon,  or  make 
a  comfortable  lodging-  or  sleeping-place  for  two 
or  three  gentlemen  during  a  fishing  excursion. 
Her  name,  "  The  Arrow,"  in  red  letters,  floated 
from  a  pennant  at  the  stern,  and  she  was  quite 
bedizened  with  small  flags  flying  from  the  stan- 
chions that  separated  the  windows  and  supported 
the  light  deck,  that  served  only  for  a  shield  against 
the  sun  and  rain.  Altogether  she  made  a  pretty 
picture. 

Arthur  recognized  the  gentleman  who  was 
called  alternately  "the  skipper,"  "the  commodore," 


HALF  MARRIED. 

and  Mr.  Elton,  as  a  gentleman  he  had  met  the 
night  before. 

As  he  heard  the  little  engine  puff  and  grumble 
as  if  impatient  at  the  delay,  he  noticed  with  sat- 
isfaction the  grave  and  dignified  face  of  "  the 
skipper,"  and  thanked  his  stars  that  there  was  one 
person  in  the  party  who  knew  what  he  was  about. 
All  the  others  only  seemed  bent  on  enjoying 
themselves.  Even  Lennox  was  thoroughly  in  the 
spirit  of  the  occasion.  When  the  phaeton  had 
been  unloaded,  two  or  three  pine  planks,  about 
three  feet  by  one,  came  to  light,  and  there  were 
anxious  inquiries  for  hammer  and  nails. 

Truly,  a  picnic  where  the  excitement  centred 
on  a  couple  of  small  planks,  a  hammer,  and  nails 
was  a  novel  experience  to  our  military  friend. 

They  all  got  aboard,  and  Arthur  watched  the 
engine  and  company  with  interest. 

The  steering-gear  had  by  an  ingenious  contri- 
vance been  brought  aft,  so  that  one  man  could 
steer,  attend  to  the  engine,  and,  if  necessary,  be 
fireman  too.  The  "  skipper"  never  lost  sight  of 
current,  tide,  or  weather,  and  at  the  same  time 
heard  and  enjoyed  all  the  nonsensical  conversa- 
tion of  his  guests.  They  said  he  could  see  out  of 


HALF  MARRIED. 

the  back  of  his  head  if  his  eyes  were  profession- 
ally occupied  forward.  Arthur's  attention  was 
not  long  riveted  on  the  machinery.  They  were 
steaming  down  one  of  the  loveliest  parts  of  the 
Connecticut,  where  the  banks  were  high  and  the 
stream  narrowed.  Some  distance  above  they  had 
left  the  long,  high  bridge  having  the  longest  draw 
of  any  in  the  world,  a  piece  of  work  that  caused 
Arthur  to  exclaim  in  admiration.  After  his  eu- 
logy on  the  structure  he  was  quite  astonished  to 
hear  Bessie  say,  "  Yes,  and  the  engineer  who  was 
the  architect  is  a  particular  friend  of  mine." 

"  Well,"  said  Arthur,  "  I  would  like  to  take  off 
my  hat  to  him." 

"  Lieutenant  Arthur,  behold  your  opportunity. 
Commodore,  allow  yourself  to  be  saluted." 

The  "  skipper"  burst  out  laughing  at  the 
officer's  surprise  and  confusion. 

"  Now,  you  did  not  imagine  that  I  had  sense 
enough  to  build  a  bridge,  did  you  ?" 

"  If  I  had  thought  at  all,  I  should  have  im- 
agined a  man  capable  of  that  kind  of  engineering^ 
would  not  be  bothered  entertaining  a  lot  of  idle, 
noisy  people  like  us.  You  must  be  good-natured 
as  well  as  a  good  engineer." 


HALF  MARRIED. 

At  this  juncture  a  large  steamer  was  sighted 
coming  round  a  bend,  and  the  big  and  little  boats 
exchanged  the  regulation  signals. 

Soon  the  Haunted  House  was  pointed  out. 
This  was  the  sad  ruin  of  a  lovely  villa  built  many 
years  before.  It  had  been  sold  for  debt,  and  was 
now  in  the  hands  of  a  New  York  banking  com- 
pany. The  miles  of  road  and  paths  were  over- 
grown. The  house  had  been  literally  pulled  to 
pieces  for  the  leaden  pipes  and  for  firewood  for 
tramps. 

Just  beyond  was  the  site  of  some  silver  and 
mica  mines.  Fielding  began  a  pathetic  story 
about  the  man  who  invested  in  these  mines  and 
"  lost  his  all."  Lennox,  who  had  been  feeding 
Miss  Howard  with  olives  and  hard-tack,  and  in- 
sisting upon  her  using  some  cotton  waste  for  a 
napkin,  casually  remarked,  "  His  micah  was  not 
among  the  prophets." 

Fielding  looked  mildly  shocked,  and  Lennox 
tossed  him  an  olive  as  a  "peace-offering,"  regret- 
ting that  it  was  "  not  attached  to  a  branch." 

After  six  or  eight  miles  of  steaming  they 
reached  an  island  where  the  fishermen  were  pre- 
paring to  haul  the  seine.  The  operation,  though 


HALF  MARRIED.  IgI 

familiar  to  most  of  them,  was  watched  with  in- 
terest. 

The  bobs  of  wood  that  floated  the  net,  marked 
a  dotted  semicircular  line  of  about  two  hundred 
yards,  one  end  on  the  mainland,  the  other  on  the 
island.  Some  of  the  fishermen  rowed  to  the  shore, 
and  two  taking  hold  of  the  end  of  the  seine,  the 
others  rowed  the  heavy  boat  back  to  the  island, 
when  their  companions  began  hauling  their  end. 

Soon  the  net  was  lying  in  two  great  piles  on 
the  beach,  the  bag  in  the  centre  full  of  flounder- 
ing fish.  As  the  sun  shone  on  this  glittering 
mass,  they  looked  more  like  fish  of  gold  and  silver 
than  of  flesh  and  bones. 

After  considerable  hard  work,  the  men  stand- 
ing up  to  their  waists  in  the  water,  the  shad  were 
brought  to  the  land.  AH  were  interested  in  this 
good  catch,  as  their  dinner  literally  depended 
upon  it.  Huntington  was  despatched  from  the 
yacht  in  a  small  boat  for  the  fishes,  and  was  to 
bring  them  back  ready  for  cooking.  Miss  How- 
ard went  with  him  to  do  the  work  while  he  did 
the  talking.  She  took  the  oars  while  he  turned 
up  the  cuffs  of  his  blue  shirt  before  venturing  to 
do  his  marketing. 


192 


HALF  MARRIED. 


The  shad  being  procured  and  the  small  boat 
made  fast,  the  yacht  steamed  up  the  current  a 
short  distance  and  anchored  off  a  pleasant  spot 
with  a  good  landing-place.  High  up  the  bank 
"  Split  Rock,"  a  perpendicular  rift  so  far  up  that  it 
looked  but  a  foot  wide,  seemed  as  clearly  cut  as 
if  done  by  a  man's  hand,  while  in  reality  wide 
enough  to  let  pass  a  wagon  loaded  with  hay. 

The  rocks  gradually  lost  themselves  downward 
in  a  wooded  bank,  which  finally  terminated  in  a 
grassy  slope  near  the  river.  A  small  stream,  cold 
and  clear,  flowed  down  from  the  height  over 
stones  and  fallen  trees,  sometimes  fairly  hid  by 
the  beautiful  ferns  and  maiden-hair  that  grow  so 
luxuriantly  in  New  England,  and  again  bursting 
out  over  the  vexing  rocks  and  boulders  into  a 
noisy,  coquettish  cascade.  It  was  an  ideal  spot 
for  these  pleasure-seekers  to  pitch  their  camp,  and 
from  the  gayety  and  laughter  no  one  would  have 
imagined  care  among  the  whole  party.  Perhaps 
if  we  lived  in  the  pure  air  more  we  would  take 
our  cares  more  lightly. 

Bessie,  being  unusually  susceptible  to  out-door 
influences,  forgot  that  she  was  unhappy.  Such 
spots  as  this  always  suggested  that  most  beautiful 


HALF  MARRIED.  !93 

of  summers  long  ago.  It  was  like  awakening  a 
gentle  spirit  of  the  past.  The  feeling  of  disap- 
pointment and  rebellion  that  at  times  threatened 
to  overwhelm  her  when  between  four  walls 
touched  her  not  in  the  free  air. 

The  passengers  were  safely  landed,  then  the 
baggage,  and  finally  the  "commodore;"  the 
little  "  Arrow"  being  left  all  alone  jauntily  riding 
at  anchor. 

A  spot  to  leeward  of  a  great  boulder  was 
selected  for  building  the  camp-fire,  and  even  the 
ladies  helped  to  collect  fuel. 

While  Lennox,  bringing  his  army  training  into 
use,  superintended  the  fire,  Mr.  Elton  arranged 
the  cuisine.  Arthur  did  not  dare  ask  any  ques- 
tions of  this  rollicking  party,  knowing  his  answer 
would  be  far  from  satisfactory.  Still,  he  looked 
with  interest  for  the  part  hammer  and  nails  were 
to  play. 

The  "  skipper"  proceeded,  with  Fielding's  help, 
to  cut  up  some  salt  pork  in  thin  slices,  each  about 
two  inches  long  and  one  wide,  and  as  exactly 
done  as  if  every  inch  had  been  measured.  Then 
a  shad  was  taken  and  split  along  the  belly,  and 

the  backbone  having  been  removed,  it  was  care- 
i       n  17 


HALF  MARRIED. 

fully  nailed  on  one  of  the  pine  boards,  back  against 
the  plank.  The  flesh  was  then  slashed  with  a 
sharp  knife,  and  at  regular  intervals  the  small 
slices  of  pork  were  laid  on,  each  securely  fastened 
with  a  nail.  By  the  time  the  necessary  number 
of  shad  were  prepared  the  fire  was  in  good  con- 
dition, and  with  a  stick  at  the  back  of  each  board 
they  were  placed  easel  fashion  with  the  fish  to- 
wards the  fire. 

In  the  mean  time  Huntington  had  utilized  the 
ice  and  lemons,  and  the  ladies  had  spread  the 
table-cloth,  and  all  were  anxiously  waiting  for 
dinner. 

The  shad  puffed  up  with  the  heat  to  three  times 
their  natural  thickness.  The  pork  spluttered  and 
crisped.  These  appetizing  odors  mingled  with  the 
aroma  of  coffee  and  lemons,  and  soon  the  experts 
pronounced  the  cooking  an  accomplished  fact. 
The  boards  were  carried  bodily  to  the  table  and 
the  fish  served  in  alarmingly  generous  slices. 

Each  guest  was  allowed  one  thin  wooden  plate. 
Arthur  had  never  seen  these  picnic  dishes  before, 
and  was  so  pleased  with  them  that  Lennox  sug- 
gested that  Bessie  and  Miss  Howard  should  paint 
him  a  fish  set  for  his  camp-chest. 


HALF  MARRIED.  j^ 

Arthur  declared,  as  his  friends  had  at  previous 
times,  "  that  no  one  knew  what  a  fish  was  till  he 
had  eaten  a  Connecticut  River  planked  shad ;  that 
the  first  taste  was  a  sensation  to  be  remembered." 
Lennox  gravely  told  him  that  the  inhabitants  of 
the  river-shore  were  such  ichthyophagists  that 
they  were  obliged  to  undress  downwards  on  ac- 
count of  the  shad-bones  protruding  from  their 
backs. 

After  the  delightful  meal  was  despatched,  the 
baggage,  which  had  materially  diminished,  was 
packed,  and  the  group  divided  into  couples  and 
quartettes  to  lounge,  smoke,  or  gather  ferns  and 
wild-flowers.  Bessie  had  done  the  agreeable  as 
the  matron  of  the  party,  so  with  a  clear  con- 
science she  started  off  with  Arthur.  They  fol- 
lowed a  path  up  the  bank  a  short  distance,  and, 
reaching  a  shady  spot  near  a  subdued  portion  of 
the  energetic  little  stream,  they  settled  themselves 
to  have  a  good  "  army  talk."  Bessie  was  all 
anxiety  to  hear  of  Waring,  but  Arthur  had  not 
as  yet  mentioned  his  name,  so  she  gradually  led 
up  to  it. 

"  Where  is  my  dear  little  Tom  ?  I  cannot 
realize  that  he  is  almost  a  young  gentleman." 


HALF  MARRIED. 

11  He  is  at  the  Polytechnic  at  Troy,  and  is  doing 
nicely." 

"And  Mr.  Waring,  where  is  he?"  She  knew 
where  he  was.  This  was  to  introduce  the  subject. 

"  Oh,  he  can  answer  for  himself."  And  taking 
out  a  flat  pocket-book,  of  which  the  contents 
were  most  precisely  arranged,  he  drew  out  a 
letter. 

Bessie  almost  felt  faint  upon  seeing  the  writing. 
The  hand  was  more  firm,  more  manly,  than  when 
she  last  saw  it,  but  yet  the  same.  The  dreamy 
October  day  upon  which  she  had  her  last  word 
from  him  rose  pictured  before  her  as  Arthur 
handed  her  the  letter  to  read : 

"  MY  DEAR  ARTHUR, — 

"You  can't  imagine  the  pleasure  your  letter 
gave  me.  It  was  a  treat,  old  boy,  though,  I 
must  confess,  a  small  one, — about  two  fingers.  To 
hear  of  so  many  of  the  fellows  did  me  good.  It's 
encouraging  to  know  they  have  not  entirely  for- 
gotten us.  ...  If  you  should  meet  my  old  friend, 
Miss  Bessie,  in  your  wanderings,  give  her  my 
love.  I  suppose  that  is  no  impropriety  after  all 
these  years.  Tell  her  that,  owing  to  her  early 


HALF  MARRIED. 

and  late  instructions,  I  have  developed  into  quite 
a  respectable  Episcopalian,  and  a  lover  of  Thack- 
eray, and  that  the  way  Ethel  devilled  Lord  Kew 
at  Baden  calls  forth  my  highest  admiration.  I 
am  hoping  next  summer  to  have  a  leave  and 
become,  for  a  short  time  at  least,  semi-civilized. 
Our  usual  shop  chit-chat  I'll  retail  when  there  is 
more  time,  as  the  sergeant  is  waiting  for  me  to 
finish.  I  inquired  about  that  fellow  that  wants  to 

be  appointed  agent  at  M .      '  He  isn't  worth 

the  powder  to  blow  him  to  the  devil,'  was  Gen- 
eral S.'s  exclamation,  so  don't  do  anything  for 
him. 

"  Yours, 

"  WARING." 

Bessie  read  the  letter,  and  though  it  was  not  a 
remarkable  letter  or  very  interesting,  she  failed  to 
hand  it  back. 

"  Mr.  Arthur,  when  you  write  to  Charlie  give 
him  my  love  and  tell  him  when  he  comes  East  we 
hope  to  see  him.  Now  tell  me  all  aboqt  every- 
body. This  is  the  first  quiet  chance  I  have  had. 
You  don't  know  what  a  delight  it  is  to  see  an  old 

friend  again !     It  seems  centuries  since  I  saw  you 

17* 


HALF  MARRIED. 

all.  As  I  look  in  the  glass,  I  wonder  why  I'm 
not  wrinkled  and  gray,  it  seems  so  long  ago. 
Then  again,  it  is  so  vivid,  it  seems  but  yesterday. 
I  feel  sometimes  as  if  I  were  two  different  persons 
all  at  once." 

After  a  lengthy  talk  the  two  old  friends  saun- 
tered down  the  sloping  path  and  met  the  others. 
The  full  moon  rose  so  early  that  they  were  to 
wind  up  the  day  with  a  moonlight  sail  and  yet  be 
home  in  time  to  have  a  good  night's  rest,  to  re- 
cover from  the  fatigues  of  the  former  evening. 
Bessie  and  Arthur  managed  to  seat  themselves  at 
the  stern  outside  of  the  yacht's  cabin.  It  re- 
quired some  care  to  keep  clear  of  the  steering- 
gear. 

They  slowly  steamed  up  the  current  as  the 
moon  shone  down  with  the  clear  silver  brilliancy 
of  northern  skies.  Nowhere  in  the  North  do  we 
get  those  golden  caressing  beams  of  the  southern 
moon.  To  one  who  has  known  fair  Luna  in  the 
South  her  northern  rays  are,  as  the  great  French- 
man says  of  "  la  vie  de  la  vielle  fille, — tres  belle,  mais 
tresfroide  /" 

The  river  was  turned  to  a  stream  of  silver,  and 
the  dark  forest-clad  banks  were  reflected  with 


HALF  MARRIED. 


199 


weird  distinctness  in  seemingly  fathomless  depths. 
Every  leaf,  every  twig,  as  well  as  boulder  and 
height,  looked  down  upon  its  twin  brother.  At  a 
turn  in  the  river  a  picnic-party  came  in  view, 
gathered  round  their  fire.  The  curling  flames 
shot  directly  upwards  in  the  still  night,  illuminat- 
ing the  background  of  high,  rough  rocks,  and 
throwing  into  bold  relief  the  bright  dresses  and 
pretty  faces  of  three  young  girls,  who  were  evi- 
dently engaged  in  making  coffee.  One  matron 
and  three  picturesque  young  gentlemen  reclined 
on  the  grass,  just  above  the  bit  of  sandy  beach 
where  two  light  row-boats  were  hauled  up. 

The  beautiful  night  and  the  natural  reaction 
from  high  spirits  subdued  the  voyagers.  Even 
the  little  engine  seemed  to  catch  the  spirit  of  the 
scene  and  worked  away  under  its  breath.  After  a 
long  pause,  Bessie  said, — 

"  This  is  like  the  nights  we  had  in  the  moun- 
tains on  our  trouting  expedition.  Do  you  re- 
member?" 

"  Certainly  I  do ;  and  a  glorious  time  we  had." 

Both  sank  into  a  deep  revery.  The  silence  was 
interrupted  by  a  sharp  report,  probably  a  pistol 
fired  on  the  shore.  Bessie  was  so  lost  in  thought 


200  HALF  MARRIED. 

that  it  startled  her,  and  involuntarily  she  ex- 
claimed "  Oh,  Charlie !"  and  laid  her  hand  on 
Arthur's  arm.  Immediately  she  saw  her  fanx- 
pas,  and  knowing  she  could  offer  no  extenuating 
explanation,  attempted  none.  She  had  been  un- 
easy for  some  time  lest  her  unhappy  domestic  re- 
lations should  be  known  to  the  world,  and  felt  that 
the  mortification  would  be  too  horrible  to  endure. 
She  could  easily  keep  her  own  counsel,  but  was 
afraid  of  being  taken  off  her  guard.  She  knew 
Arthur  was  safe,  but  she  was  more  than  ever 
afraid  of  herself. 

The  "Arrow"  came  up  alongside  the  dock,  and 
the  party,  after  many  good-nights  and  reiterated 
thanks  to  the  "commodore,"  took  their  ways 
homeward.  Arriving  at  home,  Bessie  immedi- 
ately excused  herself.  Lennox  and  Fielding  re- 
tired to  the  office,  and  Arthur,  lighting  a  cigar, 
seated  himself  alone  on  the  upper  gallery  to 
meditate  on  the  affairs  of  his  hostess.  She  could 
see  him  through  the  slats  of  her  blinds,  as,  tilting 
his  chair  back  against  the  rail,  he  seemed  lost  in 
thought.  She  had  a  wild  impulse  to  call  him  to 
the  window  and  tell  him  the  whole  story ;  but  no, 
she  must  fight  the  fight  alone,  come  what  might. 


HALF  MARRIED.  2OI 

She  never  would  be  conquered  by  fate.  She  read 
Waring's  letter  again  by  the  moonlight,  and  sadly 
retired  to  her  rest,  saying  to  herself  more  than 
once,  "  No,  he  has  not  forgotten.  Oh,  Charlie, 
my  darling,  will  I  ever  see  you  again  ?" 

As  for  Arthur,  he  had  come  across  the  greatest 
puzzle  ever  under  his  observation.  His  great 
theory  of  existence  and  explanation  of  the  inex- 
plicable hinged  on  the  idea  that  every  one  knew 
his  or  her  own  business  best.  In  this  particular 
instance  his  theory  did  not  appear  to  be  true. 
Lennox  and  his  wife  being  of  such  high  character, 
he  concluded  they  were  working  conscientiously 
but  at  cross-purposes.  Hitherto  his  ideas  of  do- 
mestic infelicity  were  where  the  wife  irritated  or 
the  husband  bullied.  There  was  nothing  unre- 
fined or  brutal  here,  but,  nevertheless,  a  darkness 
that  could  be  felt.  She  certainly  could  not  have 
loved  Waring.  He  knew  he  had  been  at  her  dis- 
posal at  any  time  up  to  her  marriage.  Yet  she 
had  kept  that  letter.  He  knew  it  was  not  acci- 
dentally done,  and  she  had  involuntarily  spoken 
his  name.  He  determined  to  look  about  him 
for  a  clue  to  this  mystery.  As  he  rose  to  enter 
the  house  he  glanced  over  the  beautiful  view,  and, 


202  HALF  MARRIED. 

as  he  tossed  away  his  cigar,  murmured,  with  a 
sigh,  "Alas!  and  who  of  us  is  happy?" 

During  his  stay  of  ten  days  he  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  things  in  the  Lennox  family  were 
in  a  very  bad  way.  Lennox  seemed  exasper- 
atingly  oblivious  to  the  best  points  in  his  wife's 
character,  and  she  too  foolishly  proud  to  demand 
her  just  dues.  After  the  devotion  and  attention 
which  she  had  received  from  young  and  old  men 
in  those  regions  where  young  girls  were  rarities, 
his  obtuseness  appeared  to  Arthur  most  cruel. 
"Bessie  evidently  has  the  old  general's  grit,  and 
will  hold  out — as  long  as  she  does  hold  out — 
without  a  show  of  wavering ;  but  when  she  does 
give  up,  what  then  ?" 

Arthur  did  not  like  to  think.  He  half  wished 
he  had  not  given  her  VVaring's  letter  to  read.  He 
wished  twenty  different  and  opposite  things.  Be- 
fore departing  he  intended  to  give  Lennox  one 
shot  about  the  treatment  of  women.  He  admired 
the  man  and  found  him  a  generous  and  agree- 
able host,  but  he  had  a  grudge  against  him. 

At  his  last  dinner  during  his  visit  he  drew  the 
conversation  to  the  great  regard  the  frontiersmen 
have  for  the  few  ladies  it  is  their  privilege  to  meet, 


HALF  MARRIED. 


203 


calling  on  Bessie  now  and  then  to  corroborate  his 
statements. 

"  Miss  Howard,  you  may  not  believe  it,  but 
once  I  was  out  with  my  company  to  act  as  escort 
to  a  party  of  civil  engineers  who  wanted  to  run  a 
railroad  over  and  through  some  impossible  places. 
One  day  one  of  the  fellows  picked  up  an  old  sun- 
bonnet,  probably  pitched  out  of  some  emigrant 
wagon.  It  had  been  pink  once  in  the  dim  past. 
None  of  us  had  seen  a  squaw,  much  less  a  white 
woman,  for  six  months.  Some  man  elevated  this 
trophy  on  a  pole,  and  we  all  joined  hands  and 
danced  around  it.  Now,  Miss  Howard,  if  we 
forgot  our  dignity  to  such  an  extent  over  an 
empty  sun-bonnet,  what  do  you  suppose  we  would 
have  done  if  a  pretty  head  had  been  in  it  ?" 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say,  oh,  cruel  barbarians,  that 
you  elevate  girls'  heads  on  poles  as  they  did  the 
traitors  in  Peter  Parley  ?  Be  more  explicit.  When 
I  was  quite  a  child  I  was  taken  to  see  '  Macbeth,' 
and  made  to  read  the  play  before  going.  All 
through  the  evening  I  was  looking  forward  to 
seeing  Macbeth's  head  presented  at  the  last  on 
the  end  of  a  stick,  and  was  quite  disappointed 
when  he  died  gracefully  in  plain  view  with  Mac- 


204 


HALF  MARRIED. 


duff's  ugly  foot  on  his  beautiful  body.  I  may  be 
gratified  yet  in  my  thirst  for  horrors." 

"  Miss  Howard,  I  assure  you,  with  us  the  pic- 
ture is  reversed.  The  ladies  have  their  beautiful 
feet  on  our  ugly  bodies,  and  we  rejoice  to  be 
tyrannized  over." 

Soon  after  dinner  Arthur  made  his  final  adieux. 
Hours  after  the  household  was  still,  Bessie  sat  by 
her  window.  Tears  would  have  been  a  luxury, 
but  she  rarely  indulged  in  them.  What  would 
she  say  to  Lennox  if  he  found  her  weeping?  To 
own  to  him  that  she  wept  on  account  of  his  polite 
neglect? — never!  And  in  fact,  he,  poor  man, 
would  not  have  expected  a  tear  from  her  on  his 
account  had  he  been  dead  and  buried  in  that  neat 
little  graveyard  by  the  side  of  his  grim  old  father. 
With  honest  pity  for  her,  he  had  long  since  come 
to  the  conclusion  that  he  never  had  and  never 
could  win  her  love,  and  had  adjusted  his  life  to 
this  conviction.  Why  she  had  ever  married  him 
he  could  not  quite  make  out.  Sometimes  he  sus- 
pected that  her  heart  was  out  of  her  own  keeping. 
But  the  difficulty  was  to  reconcile  this  theory  with 
the  transparent  truthfulness  and  honesty  of  her 
nature.  For  the  most  part  he  refused  to  think 


HALF  MARRIED. 


2O5 


about  it.  He  bore  himself  toward  her  courteously, 
saw  her  fitful  attempts  to  love  him,  and  was  secretly 
enraged  that  it  should  require  an  effort  for  her  to 
do  what  he  thought  should  be  a  natural  and  spon- 
taneous delight. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

EARLY  in  the  fall,  before  those  fortunate  ones 
known  as  "  anybody"  were  in  town,  the  Lennox 
family  were  comfortably  domiciled  in  their  house 
in  New  York,  not  too  far  up-town.  Bessie  was 
so  occupied  with  her  arrangements  that  she  had 
not  time  to  miss  her  Carrington  home  very 
sorely. 

Lennox  had  many  friends  in  New  York,  and  in- 
timated to  his  wife  that  she  was  to  remain,  as  she 
had  ever  been,  the  social  head  of  the  house,  and 
cautioned  her  to  keep  strict  account  of  all  social 
indebtedness.  By  Christmas-time  Bessie  was 
launched  into  society,  and  before  Lent  came 
found  it,  in  a  measure,  tiresome.  The  teas,  din- 
ners, and  receptions  were  tamely  alike.  If  they 
had  each  been  sprung  on  her  suddenly  she  would 
have  enjoyed  them,  but  to  take  her  pleasure  as  it 
was  laid  out  for  her,  day  by  day,  gave  it  too  much 
the  air  of  business,  and  her  unconventional  spirit 

rose  in  opposition. 
206 


HALF  MARRIED.  207 

When  the  appearance  of  either  her  or  her  hus- 
band would  fill  the  social  bill  only  one  would 
accept,  Lennox  saying  there  was  no  use  of  two 
of  a  family  being  martyred  on  the  same  gridiron, 
or,  added  Bessie,  "  steamed  over  the  same  tea- 
kettle." 

Huntington  came  into  the  office  with  Lennox, 
and  Fielding  followed  in  a  few  months  to  take 
charge  of  a  neighboring  mission  chapel.  Lennox, 
of  course,  took  a  pew  in  a  fashionable  church 
where  he  could  be  preached  to  by  a  man  of 
brains,  worthy  of  his  considerate  attention.  Bessie 
did  what  church  work  she  could  for  Fielding's 
struggling  little  parish. 

Lennox  declared  that  the  awe  in  which  the 
young  parson  held  Bessie  was  all  that  prevented 
him  from  showing  out  in  his  true  colors  as  an 
advanced  ritualist,  and  hinted  at  candles,  colored 
stoles,  and  other  paraphernalia  that  he  was  no 
doubt  ready  to  introduce  at  the  first  opportunity. 
He  suggested  that  he  and  Huntington  should  vol- 
unteer for  acolytes,  bothered  the  poor  young  priest 
about  his  cathedral,  and  addressed  him  as  Father 
Fielding,  until  he  would  have  considered  Lennox 
as  his  sworn  enemy  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  sub- 


2o8  HALF  MARRIED. 

stantial  aid  given  his  work  by  that  gentleman 
through  his  wife. 

The  Lenten  season  set  in,  and  our  four  friends 
found  it  a  decided  relief  from  the  never-ending 
engagements  of  the  winter.  By  this  time  the 
arranging  of  work  and  performing  of  social  duties, 
incumbent  upon  one's  coming  into  a  new  city  and 
expecting  to  keep  well  in  the  van  of  all  things, 
had  told  severely  on  Lennox's  constitution.  A 
matter  of  business  arising  that  made  it  advisable 
to  go  to  England  for  a  few  weeks,  decided  him  to 
take  a  two  or  three  months'  vacation,  so  that  he 
could  take  a  short  run  on  the  continent  and  see 
again  some  of  his  old  university  acquaintances. 

The  doctor  had  seen  Bessie  and  told  her  it  was 
quite  necessary  for  Lennox  to  have  this  vacation, 
soon  it  might  be  too  late ;  so  when  Lennox  con- 
sulted her  she  did  all  in  her  power  to  start  him 
off  on  his  voyage,  without  allowing  him  to  sup- 
pose that  either  she  or  the  physician  considered 
it  a  matter  of  such  vital  importance. 

He  insisted  that  even  the  advisability  in  a 
business  way  made  him  feel  selfish  about  leaving 
his  wife  at  home,  and  insisted  that  upon  his 
return  she  should  go  away  somewhere  without 


HALF  MARRIED.  2OC) 

the  children  and  take  a  rest  herself.  This  she 
promised  to  do.  Lennox  steamed  off  for  Eng- 
land, and  Bessie  found  herself  again  entirely  free, 
for  the  time  being,  to  follow  her  own  inclinations. 
In  truth,  she  did  not  know  whether  she  preferred 
her  lord  and  master  away  from  or  near  her. 
That  she  missed  a  moral  and  intellectual  stimulus 
she  knew,  but  she  felt  the  relief  that  one  experi- 
ences when  an  accusation  is  withdrawn.  His 
presence  was  a  continual  reproach  to  her.  She 
felt  that  in  some  inexplicable  way  she  was  blam- 
able. 

When  Lennox  left  he  put  all  his  private  affairs 
in  her  hands,  and  told  her  to  arrange  her  plans 
for  the  ensuing  months  without  any  regard  to  his. 
She  was  more  hurt  at  the  evident  implication  that 
she  wished  to  leave  him  out  of  her  life  entirely 
than  flattered  at  the  unusual  confidence  placed  in 
her  woman's  judgment.  Some  days  after  his 
departure  she  was  sitting  alone  and  thinking 
(women  really  do  think  at  times),  "  How  can  he 
expect  me  to  be  everything  to  him,  as  he  does, 
and  yet  leave  me  only  the  odd  moments  of  his 
time  and  attention  ?  Yes,  he  should  have  a  wife 

without  an  idea  of  her  own,  looking  to  him  for 
o  18* 


2io  HALF  MARRIED. 

her  very  right  to  breathe,  and  with  no  power  or 
desire  to  think  for  herself.  How  can  he  expect  a 
wife  who  manages  alone  his  children,  his  society, 
his  income,  to  be  a  blind  fool  content  with  food 
and  clothing?"  She  gave  a  costly  silk  train  a 
contemptuous  little  kick,  while  she  rose  and  began 
walking  up  and  down  her  handsome  parlor,  as 
was  her  habit  in  the  old  garrison  days  when  the 
world  went  contrary  to  her  wishes. 

Since  Arthur's  visit  the  summer  previous,  she 
was  possessed  with  the  idea  that  she  must  and 
would  see  Waring  before  many  months.  She 
thought  if  she  could  see  him  once  more  and  hear 
him  say  "  I  love  you"  it  would  enable  her  to  re- 
sume uncomplainingly  a  burden  that,  to  her  young 
shoulders,  seemed  greater  than  she  could  bear. 
She  was  treading  on  dangerous  ground  and 
knew  it,  but  the  knowledge  only  made  her  more 
reckless.  Her  tramp,  tramp  was  interrupted  by 
the  entrance  of  a  gentleman.  He  had  been 
ushered  into  the  parlor,  and  Bessie  had  not  heard 
his  footsteps  on  the  heavy  carpets.  She  turned 
suddenly  and  confronted  a  gentleman  of  her 
and  Lennox's  acquaintance.  He  made  himself 
agreeable  with  chitchat  as  only  men  long  accus- 


HALF  MARRIED.  2 1 1 

tomed  to  society  can  do.  The  conversation 
turned  upon  the  park  and  driving,  and  he  asked 
Bessie  to  go  with  him  to  try  his  new  span.  The 
old  groom  would  go  as  tiger,  and  all  would  be 
conventionally  proper.  Bessie's  first  thought  was, 
here  is  a  chance  to  have  a  taste  of  devotion  once 
more,  to  be  admired  and  considered;  but  she  re- 
membered that  Lennox  had  never  been  anything 
but  honorable  and  courteous  to  her,  and  that  once 
she  had  heard  Waring  say  "  that  for  a  married 
woman  to  flirt  was  low."  So,  on  second  thought, 
she  told  her  gay  friend  that  if  Mr.  Lennox  were 
home  she  had  no  doubt  but  that  he  would  ap- 
prove of  her  going,  but  as  he  was  not,  and  she  so 
much  of  a  stranger  in  New  York,  she  must  de- 
cline. 

He  disguised  his  disappointment  as  well  as  he 
could,  and  proceeded  to  make  himself  felt  in  a 
different  way. 

"  Mrs.  Lennox,  don't  you  feel  the  responsibility 
of  being  left  in  this  way,  for  so  long,  without  any 
father  or  brother  to  depend  on  ?" 

"  Oh,  no ;  I  am  quite  used  to  being  both  the 
father  and  mother  of  the  family.  Mr.  Lennox 
always  reads  family  prayers  and  orders  the  coal, 


212  HALF  MARRIED. 

thus  insuring  a  pleasant  temperature  in  two 
worlds.  This  done,  his  household  duties  cease. 
I  know  of  a  youth,  not  overburdened  with  brains 
as  you  may  imagine,  who  always  spoke  of  his 
fiancee  as  his  financier.  Being  the  financier,  I  do 
not  feel  any  added  responsibilities.  Really,  I  have 
quite  a  head  for  business.  The  Stock  Exchange 
no  doubt  lost  a  brilliant  star  when  I  was  made  my 
father's  daughter  instead  of  his  son." 

"  But  you  feel  lonesome  ?" 

"Very,  at  times." 

A  slight  pause  and  Bessie  reached  for  a  port- 
folio of  the  "  Dresden  Gallery,"  as  she  detested 
this  personal  conversation.  She  held  the  book, 
handing  out  the  separate  pictures  for  the  gentle- 
man's inspection.  Finally  they  were  finished,  and 
Bessie's  very  white  and  refined-looking  hand  was 
resting  on  the  crimson  cover  of  the  portfolio. 

"  Mrs.  Lennox,  you  have  the  most  beautiful 
hand  I  ever  saw,  and,"  giving  her  a  languishing 
glance  that  had  melted  many  a  heart  of  stone,  "  if 
I  should  lean  over  and  kiss  it  would  you  forgive 
me?" 

As  he  leaned  over  to  carry  out  his  amiable  in- 
tention all  temptation  at  flirtation,  as  a  means  of 


HALF  MARRIED.  213 

revenge  or  excitement,  vanished  from  Bessie's 
mind  forever.  She  almost  said  "  You  idiot,"  but 
instead,  raised  her  well-defined  eyebrows  and 
giving  her  well-set  shoulders  a  little  shrug,  re- 
plied, "As  you  will  do  nothing  so  disagreeable, 
there  is  no  use  of  our  discussing  the  subject." 

After  this  set  back,  our  gentleman  found  it  late 
and  took  his  departure.  Thus  ended  Bessie's  first 
and  last  temptation  to  take  up  the  role  of  flirt. 
For  years  Lennox  and  Fielding  wondered  at  the 
intense  dislike  she  had  taken  to  one  of  the 
greatest  ladies'  men  in  New  York.  It  was  a  long 
time  before  she  enlightened  them. 

The  spring  soon  passed,  and  the  time  was  near- 
ing  for  Lennox's  return.  His  letters  were  frequent 
and  interesting.  His  wife  hardly  knew  whether 
she  most  wished  for  or  dreaded  his  return,  so  she 
remained  in  her  now  usual  state  of  laisser  aller. 

It  was  also  coming  time  to  make  arrangements 
for  that  vacation  for  herself  that  she  knew  Lennox 
would  insist  upon  her  taking.  Indeed,  it  was  the 
condition  of  his  going.  Before  she  had  thought 
of  any  plans  one  of  Mrs.  Worthington's  epistles 
reached  her,  and  she  found  her  holiday  all  ar- 
ranged. Some  years  before  a  wealthy  gentleman 


HALF  MARRIED. 

of  Detroit  had  been  in  the  West,  and  army  officers 
in  general  and  Dr.  Worthington  in  particular  had 
been  able  to  do  him  some  little  favors.  He  had 
magnified  these  mole-hills  of  courtesy  into  moun- 
tains of  kindness,  and  in  return  had  put  his  steam- 
yacht,  the  "  Mist,"  at  Dr.  Worthington's  disposal 
for  the  summer.  The  men  would  have  to  be  paid 
anyway,  he  said.  He  and  his  wife  were  to  spend 
the  summer  in  Europe,  and  he  insisted  upon  fur- 
nishing the  coal, — his  business  being  in  coal  and 
iron, — so  they  would  only  have  the  mess-bill  and 
incidentals  to  pay  for.  The  yacht  would  sail 
from  Detroit  about  July  first  for  that  indefinite 
cruise  known  popularly  as  "  up  the  lakes."  They 
would  be  gone  about  three  or  four  weeks,  and  Dr. 
Worthington  begged  that  Bessie  and  Mr.  Lennox 
would  join  them.  Her  refusal  would  be  a  damper 
upon  the  whole  affair.  Mrs.  Worthington  drew  a 
picture  of  the  long  talks  of  old  times  they  would 
have  together,  and  the  doctor  added  a  postscript 
advising  Bessie  to  bring  a  trout-rod,  if  civiliza- 
tion had  not  spoiled  her,  and  finished  up  with  a 
sketch  of  the  whole  party  on  their  knees  in  sailor 
clothes  begging  her  to  come. 

Mrs.  Worthington  had  enclosed  a  letter  from 


HALF  MARRIED,  2I5 

Tom.  That  youth  was  to  be  of  the  party,  was 
rehearsing  for  "  Pinafore,"  and  evidently  he  had 
not  proved  faithful  to  "  Miss  Bessie." 

"  My  singing  in  rehearsal  No.  I  did  not  amount 
to  much  though,"  he  wrote,  "for  the  right  girl 
was  not  on  hand,  and  I  could  only  sing  with  any 
real  spirit,  '  Damn  me,  it's  too  bad.'  I  was  com- 
plimented by  II  Signer  for  singing  it  the  way  it 
should  be  sung.  How  very  awe-inspiring  it  is 
when  one  considers  how  little  incidents  in  every- 
day life  will  help  crown  our  efforts  with  success ! 
In  the  present  case,  however,  I  would  have 
swapped  the  crown  for  the  girl  any  day." 

The  Pinafore  girl  was  to  be  with  them  under 
her  cousin,  Mrs.  Henderson's,  chaperonage. 

Bessie  was  delighted  at  the  prospect  of  such  a 
congenial  style  of  summering.  She  wrote  to  her 
friends  that  as  the  steamer  which  was  to  bring 
Mr.  Lennox  home  would  not  be  due  for  three 
days  she  could  not  answer  for  him,  but  feared  he 
would  not  be  able  to  go.  As  he  had  made  her 
promise  to  take  a  rest,  she  supposed  there  would 
be  no  doubt  about  her  being  able  to  join  them. 

Lennox  arrived  on  time.  Everything  he  did 
(except  his  marriage)  seemed  to  turn  out  exactly 


2i6  HALF  MARRIED. 

as  expected.  He  looked  rested  and  well,  and  was 
glad  to  be  home  once  more.  Bessie  was  glad  to 
have  him  back,  but  all  her  thoughts  centred  in 
the  coming  yachting  trip.  To  live  in  the  free  air 
again,  to  be  untrammelled  with  no  cares  or  duties 
for  three  or  four  long  weeks !  She  could  hardly 
keep  from  jumping  or  shouting  at  the  thought  of 
this  respite.  The  children  were  to  be  sent  to  the 
house  in  Carrington.  Lennox  was  to  spend  his 
time,  as  he  could  not  possibly  go  on  the  lake 
journey  with  Bessie,  between  there  and  New 
York,  and  during  his  absence  from  Carrington 
Miss  Howard  and  Mrs.  Talcott  were  going  to 
oversee  the  family  affairs.  Lennox  was  honestly 
pleased  that  Bessie  had  this  opportunity.  He 
told  her  to  write  to  Mrs.  Worthington  that  she 
could  go  on  the  one  condition  of  paying  her  own 
mess-bill  and  share  of  the  expenses. 

By  the  time  she  had  received  the  final  note  rel- 
ative to  route  and  baggage  she  had  thought  so 
much  of  her  trip  that  she  was  nervous  and  almost 
ill,  and  her  husband  was  quite  frightened  at  her 
tired  face  and  languid  manners. 

Five  weeks  had  intervened  between  her  hus- 
band's arrival  and  her  start.  She  had  tried  to 


HALF  MARRIED,  2I7 

keep  up  the  enthusiasm  of  the  first  week  of  his 
return,  but  he  had  "  loads  of  work  to  make  up," 
and  she  plenty  of  occupation  with  her  own  and 
her  children's  affairs,  and  things  drifted  back  into 
the  old  ways. 

Fielding  came  to  see  her  the  evening  before  she 
left.  He  asked  all  about  the  journey,  and  then 
pointedly  asked  who  the  party  were  to  be.  She 
went  over  the  list  of  names,  but  among  them  he 
could  not  divine  which  was  the  key  to  the  skele- 
ton closet  he  had  been  looking  for  for  so  long. 

Lennox  and  Fielding  saw  her  safely  off  from 
Forty-second  Street.  It  was  the  first  time  she 
had  ever  left  both  husband  and  children,  and  in 
spite  of  the  anticipations  of  the  trip,  when  the 
leave-taking  came  she  was  almost  ready  to  turn 
back.  After  the  train  had  been  going  some  little 
time,  a  very  kind-looking  woman  leaned  over  the 
back  of  her  seat  and,  calling  her  "  Miss,"  asked  if 
any  one  was  ill  that  she  was  going  to  see,  she 
looked  so  "  sad-like." 

Bessie  had  to  brighten  up  and  confess  that  she 

was  going  on  a  pleasant  journey  with  old  friends, 

but   never    having   left   her    children   before   for 

longer  than  a  day  or  two,  she  did  not  as  yet  feel 

19 


2i8  HALF  MARRIED. 

quite  comfortable.  The  kind  soul  assured  her  it 
would  do  the  "  childer"  no  harm  and  her  lots  of 
good.  "  You  do  look  pale,  and  I  guess  the  city 
don't  suit  your  health." 

The  words  even  from  such  a  source  were  a 
comfort.  If  this  plain,  sensible-looking  personage 
had  reproached  her  with  carelessness,  or  detailed 
descriptions  of  ailing  children  whose  mammas 
were  away  enjoying  themselves,  poor  Bessie 
would  have  felt  herself  a  culprit  indeed.  In  some 
moods  how  far  a  few  words  go  towards  lightening 
or  increasing  our  burdens !  Bessie  was  so  grati- 
fied for  this  encouragement  that  she  listened  with 
polite  attention  to  the  dame's  history  of  her  linen 
duster, — how  many  journeys  she  had  made  in  it, 
how  carefully  and  repeatedly  she  had  sponged  it, 
how  in  consequence  she  had  never  washed  it,  and 
so  never  taken  the  shine  off  it,  etc.,  etc. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

BESSIE  arrived  at  Detroit  really  more  rested 
than  when  she  left  home.  Before  entering  the 
station  she  threw  off  her  duster,  arranged  her 
dress  a  little,  and  found  herself  fairly  trembling 
with  pleasure  as  the  train  slowed  down  to  enter 
the  depot. 

While  the  cars  were  still  moving,  she  went  to 
the  platform  and  caught  sight  of  her  friends  be- 
fore they  did  of  her.  Being  too  anxious  to  attract 
their  attention  to  think  of  the  proprieties,  as  soon 
as  the  roar  of  the  train  ceased  she  whistled  out  a 
bugle-call  which  had  the  desired  effect,  besides 
astonishing  a  very  prim-looking  gentleman  who 
was  standing  near  her.  In  a  moment  her  friends 
rushed  towards  her,  and  she  was  hugged  and 
shaken  quite  breathless.  The  tall,  broad-shoul- 
dered youth,  who  embraced  her  with  the  vigor 
of  a  young  bear,  was  still  the  Tom  of  old.  The 

doctor  and   his  wife   forgot  to  introduce  her  to 

219 


220  HALF  MARRIED. 

the  other  members  of  the  group,  and  she  was 
hurriedly  shown  to  a  carriage  before  the  mild 
excitement  had  cooled  down.  The  doctor  took 
her  check.  She  had  followed  his  injunctions  and 
brought  only  her  husband's  steamer  trunk,  as 
baggage  was  to  be  light  and  costumes  simple. 
Soon  they  were  at  the  doctor's  house,  and  after  a 
fifteen  minutes'  rest  dinner  was  announced.  Bes- 
sie was  too  excited  for  retiring  early,  so  the  plans 
and  compagnons  de  voyage  were  discussed  quite 
late  into  the  night. 

One  piece  of  news  pleased,  but  also  startled  our 
heroine.  At  dinner  the  doctor  had  said,  "  Bessie, 
we  are  going  to  have  your  friend  Waring  for  a 
couple  of  weeks.  We  will  have  a  regular  reunion, 
a  sort  of  G.  A.  R.  celebration.  We  will  open  our 
first  bottle  of  champagne  in  his  honor.  We  are 
to  pick  him  up  at  the  Sault,  and  if  his  leave  is  not 
extended  we  will  have  to  hand  him  over  to  some 
passenger  steamer  to  be  returned  to  his  owners. 
Carsten,  by  the  way,  is  here  at  Detroit.  He  has  a 
good  wife  and  has  developed  into  a  nice  fellow. 
Some  miracle,  evidently,  was  worked  in  his  behalf. 
His  surly  devil  seems  to  have  left  him  entirely ; 
his  wife's  good  influence  no  doubt.  Now,  if  Mrs. 


HALF  MARRIED.  22I 

Worthington  took  better  care  of  me,  no  one 
knows  to  what  heights " 

"  Doctor,"  interrupted  that  lady,  "  will  you  talk 
less  and  give  Bessie  some  more  dinner?" 

July  second,  at  nine  o'clock,  the  party  all  met 
at  the  dock  where  the  "  Mist"  lay  ready  to  receive 
her  passengers,  the  crew  and  stores  being  already 
aboard.  There  were,  besides  our  four  old  ac- 
quaintances, the  young  lady  after  Tom's  own 
heart,  two  young  civilians,  two  young  ladies,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Henderson,  of  Troy  (friends  of  Tom), 
and  their  two  small  children.  Waring  would 
make  the  party  up  to  the  even  fourteen. 

Little  Miss  Henderson  was  but  eight  years  old, 
but  a  veritable  enfant  terrible.  Tom  said  she  saw 
more  than  a  telescope  and  heard  more  than  a 
telephone.  The  boy  was  younger,  and  harmless 
unless  the  small  sister  got  possession  of  him. 
Then  there  were  two  of  a  kind. 

Perhaps  Mr.  Tom's  conscience  was  not  always 
clear,  but  be  that  as  it  may,  he  held  the  cousin  of 
his  young  lady  in  great  awe,  and  from  the  frequent 
taxes  she  made  on  his  pocket  and  patience,  it  was 
soon  surmised,  among  this  floating  population, 

that  she  held  a  dire  threat  over  this  youth's  head, 
19* 


222  HALF  MARRIED. 

and  thus  levied  black-mail  as  the  price  of  se- 
crecy. 

The  day  was  oppressively  hot,  but  soon  the 
breeze  on  the  water  was  felt  as  the  "  Mist,"  with 
flags  flying,  steamed  up  the  St.  Clair  flats.  At 
this  place,  of  course,  the  gentlemen  aboard  roundly 
abused  the  knowing  ducks,  who  so  rapidly  learn 
the  difference  between  a  steamer  and  a  shot-gun, 
who  demurely  paddle  away  from  one  and  scare  at 
the  other,  even  if  hid  in  the  bottom  of  a  small 
boat. 

At  sunset  they  were  in  Lake  Huron,  and  at  a 
remarkably  early  hour  all  went  below  to  try  their 
first  night's  rest  on  the  water.  The  state-rooms 
were  arranged  on  each  side  of  the  little  cabin, 
which  served  also  as  dining-room,  and  at  the  end 
of  the  cabin  on  the  port  side  was  the  pantry.  The 
rooms  were  very  small,  but  all  declared  them 
large  enough  for  comfort.  Some  contained  one 
bunk,  some  two,  some  were  longer  than  others,  so 
the  final  arrangement  to  suit  tastes  and  sizes  was 
quite  a  piece  of  work.  Shawls  were  stretched 
across  the  door-ways,  thus  enabling  them  to  leave 
the  doors  open  and  get  more  air.  At  first  the 
gentlemen  were  given  one  side,  the  ladies  the 


HALF  MARRIED. 


223 


other.  This,  however,  did  not  suit  all  hands — or 
feet.  The  next  morning  Tom  declared  that  when 
he  woke  at  dawn  he  was  scared  at  seeing  some- 
thing way  up  the  bulkhead.  Looking  again  he 
recognized  his  own  feet,  that  had  gradually  climbed 
up  in  his  efforts  to  stretch  himself.  He  then  tried 
taking  the  pitcher  out  of  the  washstand,  which  was 
at  one  side  of  the  foot  of  the  bed,  and  curling  his 
feet  over  that.  After  upsetting  the  contents  of  the 
pitcher  into  his  shoes,  he  concluded  nothing  was 
left  him  to  do  but  to  go  on  deck  and  look  at  the 
scenery. 

Mrs.  Henderson  being  very  tall  had  arisen 
while  it  was  yet  night,  and  after  alarming  her/r#- 
tegee,  the  Pinafore  girl,  who,  upon  seeing  her  candle 
flare  up,  imagined  the  ship  to  be  on  fire,  succeeded 
in  faking  from  her  trunk  a  backgammon-board, 
with  which  she  pieced  out  her  couch  by  connect- 
ing it  with  her  washstand. 

The  shifting  of  the  long  and  the  short  of  the 
party  began  the  merriment,  which  kept  up  without 
much  interruption  until  Saginaw  Bay  put  an  end, 
for  the  time  being,  to  the  fun  of  the  majority  of 
the  party,  Bessie  and  Mrs.  Worthington  being  the 
only  ladies  entirely  indifferent  to  "  the  motion." 


224 


HALF  MARRIED. 


After  several  stops  at  places  of  more  or  less  in- 
terest along  the  west  shore  of  Huron,  the  "  Mist" 
reached  Mackinaw,  and  gave  an  ear-piercing 
whistle  as  she  made  the  dock. 

The  lazy  life  of  the  past  few  days  made  the 
young  people  very  anxious  for  some  exercise,  and 
as  it  was  yet  daylight,  two  of  the  gentlemen  were 
despatched  to  the  hotel  to  find  out  what  were  the 
prospects  for  a  hop,  and,  if  extreme  measures  be- 
came necessary,  to  suggest  one.  Soon  many  of 
the  hotel  people  strolled  down  to  see  the  new- 
comer. The  doctor  asked  them  aboard.  General 
R from  the  fort  made  his  dignified  appear- 
ance, and  the  deck  was  quite  full  of  visitors,  the 
ladies  in  the  mean  time  having  possession  of  the 
cabin,  where  they  were  changing  their  blue  flan- 
nels for  garments  more  appropriate  for  the  antici- 
pated hop. 

They  had  their  dance  and  enjoyed  some  of  its 
novel  features.  At  that  time  the  upper  lakes  had 
not  become  as  fashionable  as  at  present,  and  in 
cases  of  emergency  primitive  customs  were  re- 
verted to. 

The  band  consisted  of  several  negroes  with  their 
fiddles,  who  kept  excellent  time  and  tune.  At  in- 


HALF  MARRIED. 


225 


tervals  they  sang  out  in  verse  the  figures  for  the 
square  dances,  for  instance,  in  "  gentlemen  to  the 

right,"— 

• 

"  Farewell,  my  own  Mary  Ann, 
Farewell,  gents,  for  a  while, 
I'll  come  again,  I'll  come  again, 

X 

And  greet  you  with  a  smile." 

The  different  social  ranks  represented  in  that 
boat  ball-room  were  fearful  to  witness.  It  was  a 
fact  that  in  the  same  quadrille  were  a  correct  gen- 
tleman from  Boston  and  the  steward  of  a  passenger 
steamer.  The  gentleman  from  Boston  was  spared 
the  shock  of  knowing  the  occupation  of  his  vis-a- 
vis. 

In  one  set  was  a  fierce  Hibernian,  whose  rest- 
less blue  eyes  and  blue-black  hair  gave  him  a  wild 

expression.  General  R pointed  him  out  as  a 

Fenian  Head  Centre,  and  years  afterwards  the 
unfortunate,  half-crazy  fellow  was  hung  in  Eng- 
land. The  next  day  at  dinner  he  was  heard  in- 
quiring, in  a  deep  mysterious  basso,  for  a  "  troifle 
of  poi." 

The  walk  back  to  the  yacht  after  the  dancing 
was  a  pleasant  one.  Bessie,  being  the  odd  lady, 
P 


226  'HALF  MARRIED. 

fell  to  the  care  of  General  R ,  an  old  friend  of 

her  father.  As  she  stepped  on  board,  she  felt  so 
light-hearted  she  hardly  knew  herself.  Even  her 
longing  to  see  Waring  had  assumed  a  different 
aspect.  It  was  as  if  the  pure  air  and  clear  waters 
had  washed  out  the  bitterness  of  life. 

The  ladies  generally  went  below  first  to  make 
their  preparation  for  the  night.  Sometimes  the 
doctor  and  Mrs.  Henderson  left  the  deck  quite 
early,  the  two  older  ladies  following,  leaving 
Bessie  to  do  the  matronizing  for  the  remainder  of 
the  lot.  After  the  first  two  days  out  the  hour  of 
retiring  had  become  exceedingly  late ;  there  was 
plenty  of  time  to  sleep  during  the  day,  so  these 
gay  people  quite  turned  into  a  club  of  owls  and 
bats.  The  ladies  were  ready  this  night  to  go  below 
earlier  than  usual ;  sitting  on  deck  with  the  vessel 
tied  to  a  ring  on  the  wharf  not  being  particularly 
conducive  to  romance.  After  they  disappeared, 
the  gentlemen  arranged  for  visiting  the  Natural 
Bridge  and  Sugar  Loaf  Mountain  the  following 
day.  As  there  was  so  much  ahead  to  be  done, 
they  could  not  spend  much  time  at  this  sacred 
isle. 

By  six  the  following  evening  they  had  quite  done 


HALF  MARRIED. 

the  island,  and,  having  had  noon  dinner  at  the  hotel, 
were  comfortably  seated  at  tea  at  the  cabin  table. 

General  R and  several  other  gentlemen,  whose 

acquaintance  they  had  made  in  the  free-and-easy 
way  so  natural  to  the  much-travelled,  had  come 
aboard  with  them. 

There  were  a  number  of  jokes  given  and  taken 
with  that  wonderfully  good-humored  familiarity 
that  comes  so  quickly  in  a  small  community  of 
tourists.  In  an  unlucky  moment  Tom,  lulled  into 
a  false  security,  attempted  to  "  run"  his  small  friend 
about  a  small  youth  in  a  sailor  suit,  with  whom 
she  danced  the  previous  evening  before  being  sent 
home  at  nine  o'clock  with  the  steward.  There 
was  an  ominous  pause.  As  they  all  knew  of  the 
maiden's  sharp  little  tongue,  they  expected  some- 
thing worth  listening  to. 

With  her  tawny  hair  waving,  her  brown  eyes 
flashing,  she  said  so  all  could  hear, — 

"  Oh,  Torn  Campbell,  guess  you  needn't  talk. 
Didn't  I  see  you  kiss  Alice  Huston  in  the  pantry  ? 
You  were  both  stealing  olives,  and  hard-tack  too. 
I  saw  you  through  the  crack  of  the  door." 

One  shout  went  up  from  friends  and  guests  alike. 
Miss  Huston  laughed  as  hard  as  any  one,  but  poor 


228  HALF  MARRIED. 

Tom  was  horrified,  and  blushed  right  through  a 
generous  coat  of  sunburn. 

He  confided  to  Bessie  afterwards  that  he  wouldn't 
have  cared  so  much  if  it  had  been  any  place  but 
the  pantry.  "  That  did  sound  so  silly."  But  it 
was  all  true,  alas,  even  to  the  olives  and  hard-tack. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  cruise,  when  there 
was  any  doubt  about  the  locality  where  an  event 
had  transpired,  or  the  whereabouts  of  a  member 
of  the  party,  some  one  was  always  wicked  enough 
to  suggest  the  pantry.  Tom  said,  in  spite  of  his 
good  appetite,  he  wished  there  was  no  such  place. 

The  next  evening  early  they  were  to  reach 
Sault  Ste.  Marie,  if  they  got  through  the  canal 
without  hindrance.  Bessie  could  hardly  bring 
herself  to  believe  that  she  would  see  Waring 
again.  The  plan  was  to  go  right  through,  only 
stopping  long  enough  to  shake  hands  with  the 
officers  from  Fort  Brady,  leaving  the  shooting  of 
the  rapids  until  the  return  trip.  The  "  Mist" 
passed  through  the  canal  and  very  slowly  steamed 
up  alongside  the  wharf. 

The  ladies  had  dressed  up  for  tea,  as  this  was  to 
be  the  last  stop  at  civilization  for  some  time,  now 
that  they  would  leave  the  beaten  track. 


HALF  MARRIED. 

Bessie  carefully  arrayed  herself  in  the  light  blue 
that  Waring  loved  of  old,  and  brought  out  a 

bouquet  of  wild  roses  that  General  R had 

presented  to  her,  and  that  she  had  kept  fresh  in  a 
vase  improvised  from  a  decapitated  Catawba  bottle 
which  Tom  insisted  that  the  Fenian  had  sent  them. 

Just  before  the  hawser  had  been  thrown  ashore, 
and  as  the  voyagers  were  rising  from  the  table, 
they  were  startled  by  the  tramping  of  feet  over- 
head, and  excited  shouts  from  men  on  the  yacht 
and  shore.  Bessie  completely  forgot  her  own 
hopes  and  fears  when  she  discovered  the  cause  of 
the  excitement. 

The  colored  steward,  Henry,  being  pleased  at  the 
prospect  of  a  gossip  on  dry  land  before  his  duties 
called  him  to  his  dishes,  had  concluded  to  take 
time  by  the  forelock  and  jump  ashore  before  the 
"  Mist"  was  made  fast  or  the  gang-plank  run  out. 
He  jumped,  fell  short,  and  down  he  went  between 
the  vessel  and  canal  wall.  The  dock  was  steep 
and  high,  and  not  a  rope  or  ladder  hung  from  the 
yacht.  He  was  in  a  most  uncomfortable  predica- 
ment. If  the  yacht  swung  nearer  the  landing  he 
would  be  crushed,  and  if  she  did  not  swing  away 
a  little  he  would  drown,  as  he  had  no  room  to 

20 


230  HALF  MARRIED. 

strike  out.  Judging  by  his  extraordinary  contor- 
tions, plainly  visible  below  the  surface  of  the 
canal,  treading  water  was  not  one  of  his  accom- 
plishments. The  captain  of  the  yacht  had  ap- 
peared on  deck  at  the  first  shout,  and  quickly 
took  a  heavy  hawser  that  was  all  ready  to  be 
thrown  ovep  a  pile  and  carefully  lowered  it, — if 
flung,  the  danger  of  dashing  out  the  poor  stew- 
ard's brains  would  have  added  to  his  misfortune. 

After  one  or  two  frantic  and  useless  clutches 
Henry  caught  it,  and,  putting  head  and  arms 
through  the  bight,  was  hauled  on  board.  The  poor 
fellow  was  really  a  dark  mulatto,  but  had  been 
frightened  into  a  subdued  pongee  color.  He  in- 
sisted, in  spite  of  his  haggard  appearance,  that  he 
was  "  not  a  bit  scared,"  and,  after  changing  his 
garments  and  hanging  his  wet  suit  in  the  engine- 
room  to  dry,  went  about  his  usual  avocations. 
Henceforth  all  were  careful  to  wait  for  the  gang- 
plank. 

In  the  midst  of  this  episode  the  gentlemen  from 
the  town  arrived.  All  interest  was  so  concen- 
trated in  poor  Henry's  impending  fate  that  their 
advent  was  unobserved  by  the  ladies.  As  Bessie 
raised  her  eyes  there  they  were  on  deck,  Waring 


HALF  MARRIED.  231 

in  front  of  them.  Everything  in  the  universe 
seemed  to  swing  and  shiver.  The  accident  had 
startled  her,  and  now  the  yacht  seemed  pitch- 
ing under  her  feet,  while  sky  and  earth  com- 
menced flying  round  and  round.  Still  she  ap- 
peared perfectly  composed,  as  she  stepped  forward 
and  cordially  shook  hands  with  her  old  lover, 
saying,  "  I  am  so  glad  to  see  you."  She  did  not 
dare  to  raise  her  eyes  to  his,  and  after  his  saluta- 
tion to  her  he  turned  immediately  to  the  Worth- 
ingtons  and  was  introduced  to  others  of  the  party. 
Only  while  he  was  talking  to  the  others  did  Bessie 
dare  look  at  him. 

-Considering  the  years  that  had  passed,  he  was 
remarkably  unchanged.  Some  few  men  keep 
their  boyishness  of  face  and  manner  after  the 
character  and  disposition  have  toned  down  to 
maturity,  and  Waring  was  one  of  these. 

In  spite  of  remonstrances  from  the  visitors,  soon 
after  the  new  passenger  and  his  baggage  were 
aboard  the  yacht  steamed  onward,  and  soon  found 
herself  floating  on  those  clearest  of  waters,  Lake 
Superior.  It  had  taken  the  voyagers  about  this 
long  to  find  how  to  make  themselves  comfortable. 
Some  spare  mattresses,  and  indeed,  occasionally, 


232 


HALF  MARRIED. 


those  in  use  below,  were  brought  on  deck  and 
improvised  into  divans.  Shawls  and  wraps  were 
spread  out,  and  though  the  party  naturally  paired 
off,  there  was  a  tacit  understanding  that  the 
groups  were  to  keep  to  a  reasonable  extent  to- 
gether, Tom  and  Alice  Huston  being  allowed  a 
little  license  in  this  particular. 

This  evening  the  divans  were  arranged  as  usual, 
and,  after  walking  up  and  down  the  deck  for  a 
little  exercise,  and  hearing  the  doctor  say  that  the 
moon  would  rise  in  fifteen  minutes  (the  doctor  had 
been  deputed  "to  keep  run  of  the  moon"),  the 
party  arranged  themselves  comfortably  to  make  a 
night  of  it  in  a  mild  way. 

Suddenly  the  doctor  remembered  the  cham- 
pagne he  had  promised  to  punish  upon  his  young 
friend's  arrival,  and  went  below  to  find  it.  Waring 
went  down  after  him  to  get  his  heavy  cape. 

Soon  the  doctor  called  Bessie  to  come  and  help 
him,  as  Henry,  after  his  ducking,  had  been  sent 
early  to  bed.  She  went  below  as  he  came  up  with 
the  bottles.  Waring  was  still  in  the  cabin  and 
followed  her  to  the  fatal  pantry,  where  she  was 
collecting  the  glasses  and  searching  for  the 
cracker-tin.  He  stood  in  the  door-way  looking  at 


HALF  MARRIED.  233 

her,  his  cap  in  his  hand.  A  little  of  the  saucy, 
boyish  look  had  departed,  owing  to  the  now 
heavy  blond  moustache  that  turned  upwards  to 
match  his  eyebrows.  He  was  dressed  in  neglige 
fashion,  but  with  extreme  neatness.  The  heat  of 
the  day  having  been  great,  his  blue  sacque  coat 
was  worn  over  a  white  shirt,  the  vest  dispensed 
with;  in  fact,  his  comrades  said  "  Waring  wouldn't 
mind  fighting  Indians  or  starving  on  mule  meat 
if  he  could  only  keep  his  hands  clean  and  wear 
white  shirts." 

As  he  stood  there  silent,  Bessie  grew  nervous 
and  wished  he  would  say  something  or  go  away. 
She  knew  she  ought  to  speak,  but  was  bereft  of 
speech,  and  began  to  fear  of  sight,  as  the  cracker- 
tin  could  not  be  found. 

In  reaching  nervously  for  one  shelf  higher,  the 
bunch  of  roses  fell  from  her  belt.  The  lieutenant 
picked  them  up  and  gallantly  handed  them  to  her. 
She  examined  the  tin  to  see  that  she  at  last  had 
the  right  one,  and  after  thanking  Waring  for  res-, 
cuing  her  flowers,  proceeded  to  rearrange  them. 
The  fine  thread,  the  only  string  procurable,  had 
broken  in  their  fall. 

She  would  have  offered  one  of  them  to  any 


234  HALF  MARRIED. 

other  man  in  the  world,  but  was  a  little  afraid  of 
how  her  old  friend  would  take  it,  so  she  coolly 
and  rather  awkwardly  bundled  them  together,  and 
was  just  tucking  them  in  her  belt  when  Waring, 
looking  her  straight  in  the  eyes,  said,  "  Bessie, 
haven't  you  one  for  me  ?" 

She  lowered  her  eyes,  but  in  that  moment  she 
knew  it  was  still  "  forever,"  and  she  stammered, — 

"  Oh,  yes ;  here  is  a  beauty,  the  very  pret- 
tiest." 

"  Well,  pin  it  on,  then." 

She  held  the  flower  in  her  teeth  while  she  ar- 
ranged her  own  bouquet,  and  then,  almost  faint 
from  the  sense  of  the  mingled  happiness  and  dan- 
ger of  her  position,  proceeded  to  push  the  rose- 
stem  through  the  buttonhole  of  her  old  lover's 
coat  and  make  it  secure.  Her  cheek  was  on  a 
level  with  the  blond  moustache,  her  left  hand 
could  feel  his  beating  heart,  "  the  only  heart  on 
earth,"  she  thought,  "  that  beats  for  me." 

The  rosebud  was  fastened  quickly.  Waring 
put  his  right  arm  round  her  and  leaned  his  head 
still  nearer. 

Women  fortunately  act  from  impulse,  and  gen- 
erally from  good  impulse.  If  "the  man  who 


HALF  MARRIED.  335 

hesitates  is  lost,"  what  would  be  the  fate  of  the 
woman  ? 

Bessie  put  her  hand  over  his  mouth  and  the 
soft  moustache,  and  gasped  under  her  breath, — 

"  Oh,  Charlie,  my  darling,  have  mercy !" 

They  then  gathered  up  the  glasses  and  cracker- 
box  and  proceeded  on  deck. 

As  they  appeared,  a  volley  of  questions  was 
fired, at  them, — 

"  Where  have  you  been  all  this  time  ?"  "  The 
doctor  has  been  here  ever  so  long,"  etc.,  etc. 

Bessie  explained  that  they  had  been  in  the 
pantry  looking  for  the  cracker-tin,  and  besides,  the 
lid  stuck  and  would  not  come  off".  At  that  there 
was  a  shout  that  really  frightened  our  soldier,  not 
understanding  the  witticism,  and  his  face  reddened 
in  the  moonlight.  Numerous  questions  were 
asked  him  by  the  older  gentleman,  if  crackers 
were  the  only  refreshments  he  indulged  in,  if  they 
were  preferable  to  olives  ?  to  ask  Tom,  etc.  Bes- 
sie, fearing  a  somewhat  guilty  conscience  might 
in  some  way  make  him  commit  himself,  as  he 
already  looked  quite  confused,  said,  quietly,  "  Mr. 
Waring,  it's  one  of  our  jokes  on  Tom, — some  time 
I'll  tell  you." 


236  HALF  MARRIED. 

The  champagne  was  now  ready,  and  as  the 
moon  rose  glorious  from  out  the  still  waters,  and 
the  doctor  proposed  Waring's  health,  with  the 
first  glass  came  back  many  visions  to  this  quar- 
tette of  happy  days  long  past.  The  short  revery 
they  fell  into  was  broken  by  one  of  the  young 
gentlemen  proposing  a  toast,  "The  pantry,  the 
friend  of  the  young." 

Bessie  chimed  in,  "  The  comfort  of  the  aged." 
This  ended  the  badinage,  and  soon  all  were 
hushed  by  the  beautiful  scene.  Only  the  very 
shallow  can  chatter  on  a  beautiful  night  on  the 
water,  or  go  into  noisy  ecstasies  over  a  glorious 
sunset. 

The  lake  from  its  vastness  might  have  been  the 
ocean.  The  water  was  perfectly  still.  The  many 
becalmed  schooners,  with  their  sails  silvered  by 
the  moon,  drifting  noiselessly  on  the  waters,  were 
idealized  and  beautiful.  They  suggested  the  idea 
of  very  good  schooners  who,  after  battling  with 
the  slings  and  arrows  of  an  outrageous  climate,  if 
not  of  an  outrageous  fortune,  and  having  carried 
with  steadfastness  and  patience  their  disagreeable 
burdens  of  ore  and  coal,  were  now  enjoying  per- 
petual rest  on  the  bosom  of  a  calm  sea,  a  sea  of 


HALF  MARRIED.  337 

that  same  white  metal  with  which  they  had  so 
often  soiled  their  decks  in  its  and  their  own  un- 
purified  condition. 

It  was  a  morning  hour  when  the  ladies  retired 
to  the  cabin,  even  then  declaring  it  was  a  sin  to 
lose  a  moment  of  such  a  night.  The  doctor  and 
Mr.  Henderson  had  gone  below  some  time  before, 
and  though  Tom  would  not  have  owned  it,  he  had 
nodded  two  or  three  times  in  spite  of  Miss  Hus- 
ton's fascinations. 

The  ladies  were  given  about  fifteen  minutes'  start 
for  the  turning  in.  After  Waring  came  down  and 
was  arranging  his  small  amount  of  baggage,  Bessie 
heard  him  gently  whistling  "0  luce  di  quest,  anima" 
She  had  a  moment's  temptation  to  answer  it,  but 
checking  such  a  foolish  idea,  she  soon  fell  asleep 
with  the  air  still  following  through  her  slumbers. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

AFTER  Waring's  unpacking  had  been  accom- 
plished and  the  rest  had  become  still,  he  carefully 
left  his  state-room  and  quietly  went  on  deck. 
Throwing  himself  on  the  deserted  cushions  with 
his  head  on  his  folded  arms,  he  tried  to  look 
calmly  at  the  situation.  He  had  dreaded  meeting 
Bessie,  and  had  almost  declined  the  invitation  on 
that  account.  It  had  taken  him  some  years  to 
resign  himself  to  affairs  as  they  were.  Put  him- 
self again  in  danger  and  have  the  struggle  over 
again  he  could  not,  but  seeing  her  again  in  such  a 
different  position  might  it  not  be  an  effectual  cure  ? 
So,  after  some  conscientious  hesitation,  he  had 
consented  to  come,  and  found  himself  in  the 
hardest  position  of  his  life. 

If  Bessie  had  appeared  happy  and  indifferent 
he  would  have  been  involuntarily  repulsed,  as  he 
had  expected  to  be.  But  when  did  an  affaire  de 
cceur  turn  out  as  expected  ?  From  the  first  when 
she  would  not  look  into  his  eyes,  and  from  that 
238 


HALF  MARRIED.  339 

appeal  to  his  protection,  he  knew  that  he  had  a 
place  in  her  heart  that  he  never  before  had  sus- 
pected. The  discovery  at  first  almost  stunned 
him,  and  then  came  over  his  soul  a  flood  of  bitter- 
ness. Some  boyish  stupidity  must  have  stood  in 
his  way  and  taken  the  light  out  of  his  life.  Why 
had  he  not  seen  years  ago  that  there  was  some 
hope  ?  She  cared  a  little  then.  Oh,  if  he  had  had 
patience !  What  would  a  few  months  of  waiting 
have  been  to  the  weariness  of  these  many  years 
and  the  agony  of  the  present  hour  ? 

Then  he  wondered  would  it  have  ever  been  at 
all.  In  a  chaos  of  troubled  imaginings  and  un- 
settled convictions,  he  saw  clearly  but  one  thing. 
Come  what  would,  her  trust  in  him  would  never 
be  disappointed.  He  would  find  an  opportunity 
to  have  one  talk  with  her.  He  would  tell  her  his 
love  was  even  stronger  than  before,  because  it  was 
less  selfish,  and  then  leave  the  subject  alone  for- 
ever. He  would  never  lower  himself  or  her  by 
making  love  to  her.  Still,  an  almost  desperate 
temptation  seized  him  to  do  so,  for  he  felt  she 
could  not  have  strength  to  repulse  him  long. 

It  was  as  if  they  had  changed  places.  As  she 
used  to  curb  and  quiet  his  restless  spirit,  now  his 


240  HALF  MARRIED. 

duty  was  to  watch  over  himself  and  her  too.  The 
duty  appeared  harder  than  he  could  accomplish, 
the  trial  more  than  he  could  endure. 

While  Bessie  was  slumbering  in  peace,  her 
"  dear  boy,"  her  "  cher  enfant"  of  old,  was  arming 
himself  for  the  coming  battle  with  fate,  and  only 
dared  hope  for  victory. 

The  sun  rose  gold  and  red  from  a  bank  of  gray 
cloud,  bringing  back  faith  and  hope,  as  it  always 
should,  for  is  it  not  the  emblem  of  Him  who 
commandeth  the  light  to  shine  out  of  dark- 
ness? 

Waring,  being  physically  and  mentally  worn 
out,  slept  so  soundly  that  even  the  arrangements 
for  breakfast  failed  to  disturb  him,  and  he  did  not 
make  his  appearance  until  the  meal  was  half 
through.  His  chair  was  placed  by  Bessie,  and  she 
noticed  the  little  rose  was  still  in  his  buttonhole. 
She,  being  entirely  ignorant  of  his  struggle  of  the 
past  night,  joined  with  the  others  in  twitting  him 
upon  his  lazy  habits. 

As  the  sleepers  appeared  in  the  cabin,  each  one 
in  turn  had  read  a  placard  over  the  pantry  door. 
No  one  ever  owned  to  placing  it  there.  Waring 
being  the  last  from  his  room,  the  laugh  was  de- 


HALF  MARRIED. 


241 


cidedly  on  him,  as  all  were  by  to  watch  his  dis- 
comfiture. 

"  DANGEROUS  !    BEWARE  ! 
"  Oh  youth  beguiled  of  maiden  fair, 
With  dark  blue  eyes  and  golden  hair, 
When  in  love's  paths  you  gently  hie, 
Don't  pass  the  sheltering  pantry  by. 

"  Oh  soldier  from  the  field  of  Mars, 
You  may  receive  here  other  scars  : 
Find  dangers  in  a  tin  box  lid, 
And  bombs  in  gentle  crackers  hid." 

Though  he  knew  the  others  considered  it  a 
matter  made  of  whole  cloth,  his  knowledge  of  the 
peculiar  state  of  affairs  made  him  appear  awkward 
under  these  various  soft  impeachments.  Bessie 
whispered, "  Do  be  careful ;  don't  look  so  enraged," 
and  he  put  on  an  expression  more  suited  to  the 
occasion. 

The  cruise  proceeded  without  any  remarkable 
incidents.  One  day  the  small  cousin  succeeded 
in  pitching  down  a  hatchway  during  the  operation 
of  coaling.  She  was  picked  up  unhurt,  and  Tom 
thought  "  only  her  ugliness  prevented  her  death." 

They  visited  the  fishery  at  White  Fish  Point, 
where  everything  tastes  and  smells  of  fish,  either 


242  HALF  MARRIED. 

fresh,  salt,  or  stale.  Even  the  cows,  like  those  J. 
Ross  Browne  encountered  in  Iceland,  eat  salt  fish, 
and  their  milk  tastes  of  it. 

Then  came  the  Pictured  Rocks,  which  they  were 
called  up  to  admire  at  five  o'clock,  while  they 
shivered  in  a  cold  mist.  Even  the  sea-gulls  were 
chilly,  and  circled  around  the  smoke-stack  to  get 
some  warmth. 

Passing  the  bold  scenery  of  Grand  Island  and 
rounding  Kewenaw  Point,  they  came  to  a  town 
that,  out  of  regard  to  its  amiable  inhabitants,  shall 
be  nameless.  Upon  reaching  this  point  it  was  de- 
cided necessary  to  stop  and  do  some  marketing. 
The  last  fresh  meat  was  of  such  a  peculiar  descrip- 
tion that  no  one  could  give  a  positive  opinion  as 
to  what  quadruped  it  came  from. 

The  yacht's  market-boat  alone  was  to  be  sent 
ashore,  as  there  was  nothing  of  interest  to  be  seen. 
Tom  and  Waring  were  going  with  the  steward, 
Gail  Borden  "having  become  monotonous,"  as 
Tom  expressed  it.  Each  gentleman  was  armed 
with  a  milk-can,  and  Henry  with  discretionary 
orders  and  a  large  basket. 

The  town  had  a  most  desolate  appearance  from 
the  dock.  Not  a  human  being  could  be  seen,  and 


HALF  MARRIED. 


243 


numerous  were  the  queries  over  this  strange  state 
of  affairs.  After  a  couple  of  hours'  absence  the 
boat  was  rowed  back  to  the  yacht,  its  crew  being  in 
a  state  of  mirth.  The  condition  of  the  town  was 
this.  On  the  Fourth  of  July  a  Grand  Steamboat 
Excursion  had  been  arranged,  but  it  rained,  and 
was,  therefore,  postponed.  Not  discouraged,  these 
enterprising  Northerners  had  decided  on  another 
trial,  and,  as  the  skies  were  fair  and  seas  were 
blue,  the  whole  town  had  "arisen  as  one  man" 
at  5  A.M.,  chartered  the  "  Columbus,"  and  gone 
off  on  this  belated  excursion.  Only  two  live 
creatures  had  been  left  in  the  place.  One,  an  old 
woman,  who  had  been  left  in  charge  of  the  light- 
house, and  who  recounted  this  tale  of  the  deserted 
village ;  the  other,  an  old  cow,  with  whom  Tom 
was  justly  indignant  because  she  was  dry.  The 
old  dame  tried  to  console  him  for  the  cow's  defi- 
ciencies by  liberal  libations  of  raspberry  vinegar, 
the  wine  of  that  country,  and  large  slices  of  rasp- 
berry-pie ;  but  this  unamiable  six-footer  mourned 
over  the  empty  cans  and  refused  to  be  comforted. 
There  was  nothing  to  do  but  to  anchor,  and  in  the 
morning  to  go  on  another  foraging  expedition. 
The  doctor  suggested  that  with  their  one  little 


244 


HALF  MARRIED. 


howitzer  they  would  take  possession  of  the  town 
and  astonish  the  natives  on  their  return.  At  sun- 
down the  "  Columbus"  steamed  slowly  into  the 
harbor,  flags  flying  and  the  brass  band  pounding 
out  of  time.  The  excursionists  all  crowded  to  the 
side  to  get  a  view  of  the  "  strange  sail,"  so  rare  in 
these  unvisited  waters.  The  light-keeper  trembled 
when  he  first  caught  sight  of  her,  thinking  her 
"  the  supply,"  and  wondering  what  the  inspector 
said  and  did  when  he  found  "  grandma"  in  charge. 
One  evening,  just  at  sunset,  they  sailed  through 
the  Apostle  Islands,  that  beautiful  group  unrivalled 
by  even  the  isles  of  Greece.  The  air  being  so 
pure,  the  red  clouds  gave  one  the  idea  of  a  great 
conflagration.  The  heavens  to  the  zenith  were 
glowing  like  masses  of  flame.  The  high  wooded 
islands  with  their  steep  rocky  sides,  and  boulders 
at  their  feet,  together  with  the  flaming  sky,  were  re- 
flected in  the  lake,  so  that  the  vivid  coloring  spread 
over  more  than  half  the  visible  universe.  As  the 
spectators  beheld  that  wondrous  scene  they  held 
their  breath  awe-struck.  If  the  world  had  begun 
then  and  there  to  melt  with  fervent  heat,  it  would 
hardly  have  astonished  them.  The  display  was  so 
magnificent !  It  was  a  relief  to  have  the  colors 


HALF  MARRIED.  345 

fade  and  the  scene  tone  down  to  less  gorgeous  and 
more  earthly  tints. 

After  sunset  the  different  couples  promenaded 
their  narrow  confines  for  their  usual  exercise  before 
settling  themselves  for  the  evening  lounge. 

Waring  and  Bessie  had  without  any  consulta- 
tion arrived  at  the  same  conclusion,  namely,  that 
as  fate  had  thrown  in  their  way  a  respite  from 
cares  and  regrets,  they  would  enjoy  but  not  abuse 
the  situation. 

Waring  was  walking  with  Bessie,  and  said,  "  I 
must  manage  to  have  one  talk  with  you  alone. 
Will  you  let  me?" 

He  felt  her  hand  tremble  on  his  arm  as  she  said, 
"  Yes,  Charlie."  As  they  leaned  over  the  slight 
rail,  a  little  breeze  blew  back  his  coat,  and  she  saw 
once  more  the  little  bayonet  and  the  impaled 
heart  She  started  as  she  saw  it.  Neither  spoke, 
and  he  led  her  back  to  where  the  grouping  for  the 
night-watches  was  going  on.  Bessie  saw  the  "  odd 
lady"  had  naturally  fallen  to  Waring's  care.  He 
was  so  careful  in  his  conduct,  so  different  from  his 
old  impetuous  and  selfish  manner,  that  no  one  had 
had  any  cause  to  comment  on  his  actions. 

In  a  short  time  Dr.  Worthington  came  aft  from 

21* 


246 


HALF  MARRIED. 


a  talk  with  the  captain.  He  informed  them  that 
the  captain  proposed  anchoring  off  the  mainland 
next  morning,  where  he  knew  of  a  stream  where 
trout  could  be  caught.  Those  who  had  not  rods 
and  flies  would  find  grasshoppers  good  bait,  and 
poles  could,  no  doubt,  be  procured  from  some  In- 
dians who  had  a  small  settlement  near  the  mouth 
of  Raspberry  River,  as  this  creek  was  called. 
Waring  and  the  Worthingtons  looked  at  Bessie 
when  trout  were  mentioned,  as  the  recollection  of 
the  ambulance  adventure  in  the  Rockies  came 
over  them  simultaneously.  All  laughed  together, 
much  to  the  mystification  of  the  rest. 

The  doctor  said,  "  Oh  for  the  squeeze  of  a  van- 
ished hand !"  and  his  wife,  after  glancing  compla- 
cently at  her  own  pretty  hand  and  looking  dag- 
gers at  him,  said  something  about  "  a  voice  that 
never  was  still."  Waring's  moustache  almost 
touched  Bessie's  cheek  as  he  whispered, — 

"  You  must  go  with  me ;  you  will  see  how  I 
have  improved  in  fishing  since  you  gave  me  my 
first  lesson  in  that  art.  Do  you  remember  our 
trouting  long  ago  ?" 

As  she  drew  away  her  head  she  raised  her  eyes 
to  his  and  said,  sadly, — 


HALF  MARRIED.  247 

"  I  remember  everything,  unfortunately  for  us 
both." 

At  quite  an  early  hour  the  next  morning  the 
party  were  awakened  by  the  stopping  of  the  en- 
gine and  rumble  of  the  chain,  as  the  craft  came  to 
anchor.  As  they  appeared  on  deck,  they  saw  the 
Indian  camp  or  settlement  right  on  the  lake-shore. 
The  woods,  though  a  second  or  third  growth,  were 
quite  dense  behind  the  small  clearing,  and  almost 
hidden  by  the  overhanging  trees  was  the  mouth 
of  the  little  creek. 

The  Indians  came  out  in  their  canoes,  some 
having  a  few  fish  to  sell,  but  most  of  them  for 
begging  or  mere  curiosity.  One  old  man  came 
out  in  a  brand-new  birch-bark  canoe  that  he  was 
anxious  to  sell. 

Waring  asked  Bessie  if  she  could  still  use  a 
paddle?  She  saucily  and  confidentially  referred 
him  to  the  Connecticut  River,  so  Waring  hailed 
the  old  man,  telling  him  to  bring  over  the  craft 
and  get  five  dollars  for  it. 

The  old  fellow  grunted  out  that  was  not  enough. 
The  entire  party  were  assembled  to  watch  the  bar- 
gaining. Bessie  said,  "  Wait  a  minute,"  and  soon 
appeared  with  the  remnants  of  a  dress  skirt  con- 


248  HALF  MARRIED. 

siderably  trimmed  with  sparkling  jet  beads,  which 
she  offered  to  add  to  the  price.  The  old  chief 
softened  considerably,  and,  with  a  small  amount 
of  hard-tack  and  bacon  "  thrown  in,"  the  bargain 
was  concluded. 

Waring  congratulated  himself  upon  the  small 
size  of  his  possession,  just  room  enough  for  the 
rods,  gun,  lunch-basket,  and  two  people.  He 
thought  with  satisfaction,  "  Bessie  is  the  only  lady 
here  who  would  dare  venture  in  it,  and  who 
wouldn't  tip  it  over  or  put  her  foot  through  it  if 
she  did." 

They  were  all  to  go  ashore  immediately  after 
breakfast,  and  after  visiting  the  Indian  camp  start 
up  the  stream.  The  yacht's  boats  and  a  couple 
of  canoes  hired  from  the  Indians  were  enough  to 
carry  all  the  party. 

The  stout  captain  had  gallantly  volunteered  to 
catch  grasshoppers  for  the  young  ladies,  and  a 
short  distance  off,  on  a  small  clearing,  he  could  be 
seen  wildly  plunging  about  after  an  invisible  prey. 
Once  he  turned  a  complete  somersault,  much  to 
the  amusement  of  these  cruel-hearted  girls,  who 
watched  his  undignified  antics  in  their  behalf  with 
tears  of  laughter  streaming  from  their  eyes.  Miss 


HALF  MARRIED.  249 

Huston  almost  became  hysterical  in  her  efforts  to 
subside  as  he  approached  them. 

He  returned  hot,  red,  dishevelled,  but  trium- 
phant. He  had  torn  the  leg  of  his  trousers  and 
burst  the  buttonhole  in  his  shirt-band,  but  he  had 
captured  a  goodly  amount  of  bait.  The  doctor 
declared  that  the  girls  should  mend  his  clothes, 
but  Mrs.  Worthington  took  that  task  upon  her- 
self. 

The  captain  said  that  these  Indians,  some  of 
them  half-breeds,  had  not  a  very  good  reputation. 
There  was  a  settlement  of  Moravians  some  miles 
inland,  and  when  these  Indians  felt  "  particularly 
frisky  or  got  particularly  drunk,  they  went  up  and 
killed  a  Moravian  or  two."  Though  there  was 
little  to  fear  from  them,  the  gentlemen  took  their 
pistols  along,  thus  being  prepared  should  they  be 
inadvertently  taken  for  Moravians. 

The  provision  for  the  day  was  stored  in  the  dif- 
ferent boats  and  their  loads  told  off,  and  soon  the 
little  fleet  started.  They  tried  at  first  to  arrange 
to  meet  at  lunch,  but  owing  to  the  different 
draughts  of  the  boats  this  was  given  up,  and  it 
was  decided  that  every  boat  should  be  a  law  unto 
itself. 


250 


HALF  MARRIED. 


The  captain,  who  knew  the  region  well,  cau- 
tioned them  to  return  before  sundown,  as  other- 
wise the  mosquitoes  would  literally  pick  their 
bones.  They  were  to  time  themselves  up-stream, 
get  an  idea  of  the  strength  of  the  current,  and  all 
endeavor  to  reach  the  yacht  at  the  same  hour, 
well  before  sunset. 

Waring  and  Bessie  seated  themselves  in  the 
canoe,  flat  on  the  bottom.  The  frail  thing  never 
could  have  borne  their  weight  on  thwarts.  Bessie 
took  the  bow  paddle,  Waring  the  stern,  where  he 
would  steer  and  so  do  the  hardest  part  of  the 
work.  They  shoved  off,  but  in  a  few  strokes  had 
to  ignominiously  return. 

Waring  had  either  failed  in  steering  or  had  not 
seen  a  small  sand-bar,  and  owing  to  the  distribu- 
tion of  the  load  the  canoe  was  a  little  down  by  the 
head.  So,  as  she  started,  the  pitch  had  been 
scraped  off  one  of  her  seams  by  the  sand  and  she 
was  leaking  badly.  They  turned  to  the  shore, 
but  the  Indians  had  seen  the  trouble  before  they 
had.  Some  fearful-looking  old  hags  had  already 
put  a  pot  of  pitch  over  the  smouldering  fire  that 
had  been  suddenly  poked  into  activity.  The  canoe 
was  quickly  unloaded,  turned  bottom  upward,  and 


HALF  MARRIED.  2$l 

the  leak  searched  for  in  true  Indian  fashion.  Small 
papooses  and  all  kneeled  over  the  light  craft,  and 
running  their  lips  over  the  seams,  at  the  same  time 
drawing  in  their  breath,  the  defective  spot  was 
soon  found.  By  this  time  the  pitch  was  boiling 
and  quickly  applied  to  the  leak,  so  in  a  few  mo- 
ments the  canoe  was  again  in  good  shape.  The 
cargo  was  more  carefully  distributed,  the  bars 
more  carefully  looked  for,  and  the  voyage  re- 
sumed. 

Waring  still  clung  to  his  white  shirt  in  spite  of 
the  ridicule  of  his  companions.  He  had  at  pres- 
ent dispensed  with  cuffs,  collar,  and  coat,  which 
latter  garment  was  rolled  up  in  the  bottom  of  the 
canoe.  As  they  entered  the  shaded  stream,  his 
cap  was  thrown  off,  a  blue  silk  handkerchief  was 
loosely  knotted  around  his  throat,  and  a  buckskin 
belt,  of  very  beautiful  workmanship,  which  held  a 
very  small  pistol  and  very  big  knife,  was  buckled 
around  his  waist,  and  formed  a  remarkable  con- 
trast to  the  very  civilized  and  carefully  laundried 
"  bosom-shirt." 

Bessie  had  also  laid  aside  her  hat,  ornamented 
as  in  days  of  yore  with  leaders  and  flies.  A  loose 
blouse-shirt  gave  play  to  her  arms,  and  the  broad 


252 


HALF  MARRIED. 


collar  being  open  at  the  throat,  her  handsome  fig- 
ure had  perfect  freedom.  Her  black  skirt  was 
carefully  tucked  about  her  as  she  sat,  Indian  fash- 
ion, handling  her  paddle.  The  only  relief  to  her 
sombre  dress  was  a  scarlet  handkerchief  tied 
around  her  neck.  After  a  few  attempts  they  got 
in  stroke,  and  in  spite  of  their  delay  soon  caught 
up  with  and  then  passed  the  heavier  boats.  The 
others  admired  the  two  handsome  young  faces  and 
trim  figures  swinging  so  gracefully  in  perfect  time. 
As  the  little  craft  floated  so  quickly  and  noise- 
lessly by,  leaving  the  others  far  behind,  for  the 
first  time  an  uneasy  expression  passed  over  Mrs. 
Worthington's  face. 

After  paddling  some  distance  up-stream,  Waring 
proposed  to  begin  fishing.  He  said  it  was  not 
very  sociable  only  having  Bessie's  back  to  look 
at.  They  moved  very  carefully,  not  wishing  to 
fulfil  their  friends'  prophecy  of  tipping  over,  or 
putting  a  foot  through  their  "  egg-shell." 

The  rods  were  jointed  and  the  sport  began.  As 
the  stream  had  become  quite  narrow,  with  numer- 
ous rocks  and  boulders,  and  the  trees  met  over- 
head, a  clear  cast  was  impossible,  so  our  fishers 
had  to  be  satisfied  with  trailing  the  flies  lightly 


HALF  MARRIED. 

over  the  water.  Waring  had  the  first  "  rise,"  but 
Bessie  caught  the  first  trout.  She  insisted  upon 
attending  to  her  own  line,  so  at  the  end  they  could 
tell  honestly  who  had  got  the  most  fish. 

After  the  usual  experimenting  with  various  flies 
they  decided  upon  a  certain  variety,  and  as  after 
some  good  luck  the  rises  became  scarcer,  they 
continued  up-stream,  finding  some  auspicious  look- 
ing "  holes"  that  would  have  been  passed  over  by 
less  experienced  sportsmen.  They  succeeded  while 
it  was  yet  early  in  the  day  in  procuring  a  fine 
string.  Waring  was  convinced  they  had  enough 
to  prevent  his  "  being  given  away," — as  Tom  would 
have  remarked  in  his  favorite  vernacular, — and  as 
the  small  boat  had  become  rather  cramping,  he 
suggested  that  they  should  go  ashore,  have  lunch, 
and  "  loaf  the  rest  of  the  day."  Bessie  proposed 
landing  where  they  were,  but  Waring  objected, 
without  giving  any  reason.  He  said  they  must 
go  up  the  stream  some  distance  farther;  so  up  they 
went  another  half-mile  where  it  was  very  shallow, 
and  made  their  landing.  As  Bessie  stepped  from 
the  canoe  she  said, — 

"  Charlie,  why  did  you  insist  upon  coming  all 
the  way  up  here,  if  you  were  cramped  before  ?" 


22 


254 


HALF  MARRIED. 


He  held  her  hand  as  he  helped  her  out. 

"Well,  I'll  tell  you.  The  heavy  boats  can't 
follow  us  up  here,  and  I  am  going  to  have  you  all 
for  myself  once,  and  for  the  last  time.  I  feel  it  is 
for  the  last  time,  forever,  Bessie,  forever — forever. 
You  need  not  look  so  frightened.  I  am  not  going 
to  murder  you  or  even  tease  you ;  I  have  some- 
thing to  say  to  you,  but  that  will  not  bother  you 
long.  I  am  going  to  have  you  to  look  at  and 
think  about,  that  is  all,  to  be  free,  to  be  off  my 
guard,  to  imagine  we  are  alone  in  the  universe  for 
a  few  short  hours,  then  to  begin  over  again  my 
lonely  life." 

The  canoe  was  again  unpacked  and  carefully 
lifted  up  on  the  little  beach.  After  putting  the 
trout  in  the  shade  covered  with  wet  leaves,  and  a 
primitive  washing  of  hands  in  the  small  creek, 
they  seated  themselves  in  true  picnic  fashion  to  a 
generous  luncheon  prepared  by  the  amiable  Henry. 
Bessie  was  half  sorry,  and  felt  a  little  guilty,  that 
she  had  placed  herself  in  a  position  from  which 
there  was  no  retreat,  but  it  was  the  last  time,  for- 
ever, and  if  the  penalty  might  have  been  death 
instead  of  only  an  impropriety,  she  would  have 
risked  it. 


HALF  MARRIED.  255 

She  kept  up  a  running  fire  of  conversation, 
vainly  hoping  to  divert  Waring's  attention  from 
anything  serious  that  he  might  have  to  say. 

After  their  repast  he  seated  her  in  the  shade 
among  moss  and  ferns,  and  laughingly  asked 
if  she  was  comfortable,  because  he  was  going  to 
keep  her  there  a  long  time. 

As  she  said,  "  Yes,  quite  comfortable,"  he  threw 
himself  down  by  her  side.  The  first  time  he  had 
talked  to  her  in  the  woods  came  back  to  them 
both.  Bessie  was  trembling  from  head  to  foot, 
and  was  almost  unable  to  keep  up  a  show  of  the 
composure  she  was  so  far  from  feeling.  She  first 
wished  that  he  would  not  speak,  and  then  that  he 
would  "  say  his  say"  at  once,  and  have  it  over 
before  she  betrayed  her  nervousness.  Their  re- 
spective attitudes  were  reversed.  Of  old  she  had 
been  self-contained  and  decided,  he  agitated  and 
impulsive.  Without  noticing  her  agitation,  which 
amounted  to  distress,  he  calmly  lighted  his  cigar, 
and  commenced  asking  her  ordinary  questions 
about  herself,  her  life  in  New  York,  and  so  on. 
Then  he  began,  abruptly, — 

"  Bessie,  it  seems  strange  for  us  to  be  off  again 
in  the  wilderness  together.  One  would  not  think 


HALF  MARRIED. 

so  many  years  had  gone  by.  This  looks  like  the 
same  spot,  doesn't  it  ?" 

"Yes." 
•     "  Do  you  remember  the  day  I  left  Fort  Derby  ?" 

She  kept  her  eyes  turned  away  and  her  face 
calm  as  she  endured  her  torture. 

"  Yes,  I  remember." 

"  Do  you  remember  one  day  when  I  had  come 
in  from  a  hard  ride  with  an  important  letter  from 

General  R to  your  father,  and  fell  asleep  on 

the  lounge  in  the  general's  office  while  wait- 
ing to  deliver  it  to  him, — at  least  you  thought 
I  was  asleep,  for  you  came  in  very  softly  and 
kissed  me  on  the  forehead  ?  Do  you  not  remem- 
ber?" 

"  No,  I  do  not." 

"  Well,  I  do.  I  lived  on  that  one  kiss,  I  cannot 
tell  you  how  long.  You  never  kissed  me  again 
till  just  before  I  left  you  on  that  winter  morning, 
— I  can  see  that  same  sunrise  now.  You  thought 
I  was  asleep  and  would  not  know.  I  think  if  I 
had  been  dead  I  should  have  felt  it.  Bessie, 
please  look  at  me.  You  need  not  turn  your  face 
away  this  time.  This  is  what  I  have  to  say  to 
you.  From  the  moment  I  left  you  on  that  morn- 


HALF  MARRIED. 


257 


ing  a  change  came  over  me.  As  you  could  not  or 
would  not  love  me,  I  determined  that  you  should 
at  least  respect  me,  and  perhaps  some  day  be  a 
little  proud  of  me.  I  actually  studied,  and  re- 
frained from  doing  anything  that  I  thought  you 
would  disapprove  of.  In  fact,  I  made  you  a  sort  of 
conscience  and  tried  to  take  my  trial  as  a  salutary 
discipline.  Sometimes  I  am  almost  ready  to  say 
all  was  for  the  best.  I  can  now  see  that  perhaps 
there  were  reasons  why  we  should  have  been  un- 
happy together.  That  would  have  killed  me. 
Now  I  have,  at  least,  a  romance,  a  happiness  to 
look  back  upon  that  cannot  be  taken  away  from 
me.  Come  what  may  that  much  is  mine  forever, 
for  eternity.  I  have  only  this  to  add,  I  feel  to- 
wards you  now  as  I  have  for  years,  as  I  have 
from  the  first  moment  I  saw  you.  If  I  do  not  see 
you  again  for  years  to  come,  if  never  again,  you 
are  to  think  of  me  as  always  the  same." 

As  if  fearing  to  lose  his  self-control  he  sud- 
denly broke  off.  After  a  little  he  began, — 

"  What  did  you  do  for  the  first  months  East  ? 
Your  going  away  was  so  horridly  lonesome  and 
desolate,  my  heart  ached  for  you." 

"  Oh,  I  cried  my  foolish  self  to  sleep  for  three 


258 


HALF  MARRIED. 


months  every  night  after  you  left  me,  and  wanted 
to  cry  all  day  too." 

"  Then,  Bessie,  you  must  have  loved  me  a 
little?" 

She  was  astonished  that  she  could  say  calmly, — 

"  Yes,  a  little,  and  I  wondered  you  never  knew. 
I  could  not  tell  you.  It  would  have  made  it 
harder  for  us  both." 

"  Bessie,  it  is  only  lately  that  I  have  suspected 
that  once  you  must  have  cared  a  little  for  me.  I 
was  too  tyrannical,  too  childish,  too  exacting.  If 
I  had  been  better  and  had  had  patience  it  might 
have  come  out  all  right.  Bessie,  it  is  a  terrible 
thing  for  a  man  to  feel  that  he  himself  has  thrown 
away  his  own  life !  Did  you  find  the  little  cross 
I  left  for  you  ?  I  slipped  up  to  your  room  like  a 
thief  in  the  night,  and  was  almost  frightened  to 
death  at  old  Lucy's  footsteps  in  the  next  room." 

She  made  no  answer,  but  loosened  the  scarlet 
handkerchief,  and  there  hung  the  cross  on  her 
neck. 

He  threw  one  arm  over  her  lap,  and  looked  in 
her  face. 

"  Bessie,  my  sweetheart,  will  you  give  me  one 
kiss  to  live  on  for  years,  forever,  darling  ?" 


HALF  MARRIED.  259 

The  temptation  to  tell  him  of  her  lonesome, 
disappointed  life  almost  overcame  her.  She 
seemed  to  be  standing  outside  of  herself,  and  re- 
viewing her  own  actions  and  struggles  passion- 
lessly,  as  if  they  were  being  performed  by  another. 
She  saw  love  and  sympathy,  her  happiest  recol- 
lections, and  her  one  romance  there  at  her  feet, 
within  too  easy  reach.  She  could  almost  hear 
Waring's  heart  beat  as  he  held  her  hand  and 
looked  for  her  answer.  On  the  other  side  she 
saw  the  cold,  hard,  unattractive  path  of  duty  and 
honor.  Honor !  so  cold  and  colorless  when  love 
and  inclination  are  set  over  against  it!  But,  with 
that  clearness  of  vision  only  vouchsafed  to  the 
pure  in  heart,  she  saw  the  situation  in  all  its  fear- 
fulness,  and  with  a  mental  prayer  for  herself,  for 
him,  and  for  Lennox,  who  unwittingly  had  left 
her  for  years  to  these  temptations,  she  looked 
Waring  courageously  in  the  face  and  said, — 

"  Charlie,  you  know  I  cannot." 

He  hesitated  a  moment,  drew  himself  away  from 
her,  and  said,  very  gently, — 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  I  shouldn't  have  asked  you. 
I'll  never  annoy  you  again,  never, — but  you  must 
not  forget  me." 


26o  HALF  MARRIED. 

He  rose  from  the  ground,  told  Bessie  to  stay- 
there  till  he  returned,  and,  walking  down  the 
margin  of  the  river,  cut  a  stick  from  a  tree,  sharp- 
ened the  end,  and  picking  up  a  good-sized  stone, 
he  came  back  to  her.  He  had  assumed  his  old 
jaunty  air  and  had  bade  adieu  to  the  tragics.  Bes- 
sie felt  relieved,  and  .asked  what  he  was  going,  to 
do. 

"  You  shall  soon  see.  Are  you  seated  comfort- 
ably ?" 

"  Yes,  I  am." 

"Last  night  I  could -not  rest,  thinking  of  this 
interview.  I  am  going  to  take  a  nap,  and  I  am 
afraid  you  will  run  away  from  me — so."  And  he 
coolly  ran  his  picket  through  Bessie's  dress  and 
hammered  it  down  with  the  stone.  After  arrang- 
ing his  coat  for  a  pillow,  and  intimating  that  there 
were  "  some  girls  who  never  would  help  a  man  to 
be  comfortable,"  he  put  his  curly  head  on  his  arm 
and  settled  himself  for  a  nap,  or  at  least  a  pre- 
tended one. 

The  light  breeze  stirred  the  trees  just  enough 
to  vary  the  flickering  lights  and  shadows  thrown 
on  the  rocks  in  the  stream.  The  water  flowed 
gently  by  with  hardly  a  murmur,  and  the  quiet 


HALF  MARRIED.  26l 

surface  was  only  occasionally  troubled  by  the 
touch  of  the  golden  wing  of  the  dragon-fly,  the 
splash  of  the  ubiquitous  kingfisher,  or  the  rise 
of  a  small  trout,  his  glistening  body  thrown  full 
length  above  the  water  in  his  endeavor  to  reach 
some  adventurous  bright-winged  inhabitant  of  the 
summer  air.  The  crickets,  the  bees,  and  their 
many  neighbors  made  the  air  sleepy  with  their 
buzzing  and  chirruping.  The  whole  scene  was 
soothing  and  restful.  Soon  Waring  was  really 
asleep,  with  his  lady-love  most  unromantically 
but  safely  picketed  by  his  side. 

As  she  sat  there  by  him  she  thought  how  much 
of  the  boy  still  remained,  how  his  mother  must 
love  him,  how  she  might  if  she  dared.  His  curls 
were  bright  as  ever,  and  the  graceful  form  was 
perfect,  but  the  forehead  was  not  as  smooth  as 
when  he  first  poured  out  his  griefs  to  her  in  that 
other  wilderness.  The  long  eyelashes  gave  a 
pathetic  shade  to  his  face,  and  there  was  the  inde- 
scribable and  indefinable  trace  of  struggles  and 
years  not  perceptible,  in  the  still  boyish  face,  when 
animated. 

He  sighed  once  in  his  childlike  slumbers,  and 
Bessie  spoke  half  aloud, — 


262  HALF  MARRIED. 

"  Must  we  all  suffer,  even  in  our  sleep  ?" 
She  could  watch  over  him  for  a  short  time  be- 
fore taking  up  her  every-day  life.  No  one  was 
near  to  criticise  or  comment  upon  her  behavior. 
He  himself  could  not  know  the  delight  it  was  to 
her  just  to  sit  there  near  him  and  have  him  once 
more  all  to  herself.  As  she  sat  there  sentinel  over 
his  slumbers,  in  spite  of  her  sad  thoughts  she  was 
amused  at  the  many  denizens  of  moss  and  fern, 
of  earth  and  air,  that  flew  and  crawled  about  him, 
and  warded  off  these  many-winged  and  multiple- 
legged  visitors.  Once  a  yellow  butterfly  fluttered 
over  his  head,  evidently  with  the  intention  of  light- 
ing on  his  hair,  but  after  poising  over  him  flew 
away.  Bessie  looked  after  it  with  a  sort  of  super- 
stition, wondering  vaguely,  Is  it  in  a  form  like  this 
that  our  thoughts  leave  us  and  wander  about  when 
we  sleep  ?  Would  he  really  know  if  he  were  dead 
and  I  kissed  him  ?  Suppose  he  were  dead, — or 
dead  to  me.  And  her  thoughts  wandered  off  into 
those  fantastic  regions  where  the  real  and  the  un- 
real are  so  curiously  mingled. 

When  she  aroused  from  her  revery  Waring  was 
awake  and  looking  at  her.  He  said  nothing  about 
their  late  conversation,  and  after  lazily  gazing  about 


HALF  MARRIED. 

him,  proposed  a  little  walk  along  the  rather  rough 
margin  of  the  stream. 

As  they  went  along  he  picked  a  bunch  of  deli- 
cate little  blue-bells  and  handed  them  to  her. 

"  Here  are  some  blue-bells  for  your  belt,  in 
place  of  the  violets  we  used  to  have.  Do  you 
ever  wear  violets  now  ?  I  often  think  of  you  at 
your  operas  and  balls  with  violets  in  your  dress, 
and  wonder  if  they  look  as  pretty  as  when  tucked 
in  the  old  blue  riding-skirt,  or  on  the  pretty  white 
dresses  at  our  garrison  parties." 

"  You  need  never  think  of  them  again  in  that 
connection.  I  have  never  worn  violets  since  the 
last  you  gave  me ;"  and,  lowering  her  voice,  "  I 
have  them  yet,  poor  little  withered,  faded  things. 
Now,  Charlie,  the  shadows  are  getting  deeper,  and 
you  know  the  fate  prophesied  to  the  belated  trav- 
eller, so  we  must  pack  up  and  away." 

The  canoe  was  carried  to  the  water,  packed, 
and  was  soon  gliding  down-stream.  After  a  time 
the  other  canoes  were  sighted,  and  the  day  for 
Waring  was  ended.  By  the  time  the  larger  boats 
came  to  view  he  had  quite  resumed  his  devil- 
may-care  manner.  The  young  ladies  in  their  dif- 
ferent boats  each  held  up  for  inspection  two  mi- 


264  HALF  MARRIED. 

nute  trout.  Soon  the  little  fleet  collected  and  all 
arrived  together  at  the  yacht,  where  the  numerous 
adventures  of  the  day  were,  at  least  in  part,  re- 
lated. Miss  Huston  had  tired  of  grasshoppers 
for  bait,  and  had  actually  caught  a  trout  with  a 
huckleberry, — "  a  bete  noire'"  Tom  called  it. 

Mrs.  Henderson  had  lifted  a  victim  into  the 
boat,  and  it  had  wriggled  off  the  hook  into  the 
drapery  of  her  overdress.  It  continued  to  wriggle 
and  she  continued  to  jump  until  the  whole  boat- 
load were  in  imminent  danger  of  capsizing. 

Waring  and  Mrs.  Lennox  had  as  many  fish  as 
all  the  rest  of  the  party  combined.  Tom  asked 
how  on  earth,  or  on  water,  they  got  so  many. 
Our  deceitful  lieutenant  told  him  with  a  reproving 
air  that  was  almost  too  much  for  Bessie's  gravity, 
that  the  reason  he  caught  so  few  was  because  he 
spent  too  much  time  and  thought  over  his  young 
lady,  and  not  enough  on  the  fish.  Tom  at  this 
could  not  resist  giving  him  a  knowing  look,  as 
much  as  to  say  that  the  expedition  had  been  suc- 
cessful even  if  the  fish  were  still  in  the  clear 
waters  of  the  "  Raspberry." 

The  trout  were  sent  to  the  galley,  the  company 
arranged  their  toilets,  and  were  soon  assembled 


HALF  MARRIED.  26$ 

around  the  cabin  table.  When  they  returned 
from  their  different  expeditions  the  little  dining- 
room  was  now  quite  like  home,  and  all  were  a 
little  sad  to  think  that  on  the  morrow  they  were 
to  turn  their  faces  eastward. 

The  next  morning  they  left  the  beautiful  islands, 
and  that  evening,  as  they  were  grouped  on  deck, 
they  were  treated  to  a  grand  display  of  the  aurora. 
The  first  quivering  dart  of  light  was  seen  simul- 
taneously by  half  the  party.  This  one  ray  alone 
darted  up  to  the  zenith,  but  in  a  few  seconds  half 
the  heavens  were  glowing  with  shifting,  quivering 
spears  of  light.  They  turned  from  white  to  blue, 
from  green  to  red,  and  almost  covered  the  sky 
with  their  ever-changing  colors.  They  were  so 
beautiful,  so  majestic,  here  far  from  the  habitations 
of  men,  where  the  silence  was  only  broken  by  the 
measured  pulse  of  the  little  engine,  that  Bessie 
almost  expected  to  hear  the  music  of  the  spheres 
break  forth  from  these  pinnacles  of  light,  that  rose 
in  the  air  like  the  pipes  of  a  great  celestial  organ, 
where  the  harmonies  of  heaven  might  be  for  once 
attuned  to  mortal  ears.  It  seemed  a  sort  of  vision 
glorious  vouchsafed  to  her  to  make  her  yoke 
more  easy  and  her  burden  more  light. 

M  23 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

THE  cruise  homeward  proceeded  with  as  much 
gayety  as  the  outward  voyage.  Some  joke  had 
been  perpetrated  upon  all  but  Mrs.  Worthington. 
There  was  some  allusion  that  would  quiet  the  chaff 
of  every  other  person,  but  so  far  she  had  proved 
invulnerable.  Finally  her  turn  came.  __  One  night 
she  retired  to  the  cabin  leaving  the  others  on  deck. 
She  was  to  call  them  in  a  few  moments,  as  they 
were  to  be  wakened  at  five  the  next  morning  to  go 
ashore.  Not  hearing  the  promised  voice  of  ad- 
monition and  warning,  they  forgot  all  about  it. 
Suddenly  it  came  over  them  that  it  was  hours 
since  Mrs.  Worthington  had  gone  below.  The 
ladies  rapidly  and  quietly  gathered  together  their 
wraps,  and  descended  the  narrow  companion-way. 
It  was  evident  that  Mrs.  Worthington  had  forgot- 
ten them,  but  why  ?  The  mystery  was  explained 
as  soon  as  they  reached  the  cabin.  Her  state- 
room door  was  open  and  curtains  undrawn.  She 
had  fallen  asleep  saying  her  prayers !  She  was 

kneeling  on  the  floor,  her  arms  on  her  bunk,  her 
266 


HALF  MARRIED.  267 

head  on  her  hands,  fast  asleep.  Her  beautiful  iron- 
gray  hair  was  done  in  a  loose  knot  on  the  top  of 
her  head,  and  her  dark  crimson  wrapper  enveloped 
her  in  its  soft  folds.  The  dim  light  of  a  ship's 
lantern  shone  directly  over  her  head,  and  alto- 
gether she  made  a  graceful  picture. 

The  gentlemen,  hearing  sounds  of  suppressed 
mirth  from  below,  with  a  curiosity  ill  becoming 
the  sterner  sex,  could  not  resist  investigating  mat- 
ters, and  soon  they  too  were  regarding  the  sleeping 
matron  with  mingled  admiration  and  amusement. 
Waring  said  he  would  awake  her.  He  wanted 
revenge  for  his  broken  rest  in  that  ambulance 
years  ago.  He  laid  his  hand  on  her  shoulder  and 
gently  roused  her,  telling  her  as  it  was  two  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  they  had  called  merely  to  suggest 
that  it  was  bedtime. 

The  doctor  had  had  his  misadventure  at  Copper 
Harbor.  They  left  that  place  one  evening  after 
dark.  The  night  was  unusually  black.  As  they 
were  waiting  for  the  boat  a  man,  evidently  a  miner, 
walked  up  to  him  and,  holding  a  piece  of  some- 
thing in  his  hand,  requested  the  doctor  to  buy  a 
specimen  of  copper,  a  remarkably  fine  and  pure 
one.  The  doctor  demurred  on  account  of  the 


268  HALF  MARRIED. 

darkness,  but,  upon  repeated  assurances  that  it  was 
pure  copper,  finally  yielded,  and  purchased  the 
specimen.  When  they  reached  the  yacht  and 
compared  notes  and  purchases,  the  doctor's  was 
found  to  be  copper  sure  enough, — he  had  paid  a 
good  price  for  a  piece  of  an  ancient  copper  kettle ! 

At  the  Sault,  Waring  left  them,  not  waiting  to 
see  the  "  Mist"  pass  through  the  canal.  He  had 
told  Bessie  good-by  the  night  before  as  they 
promenaded  the  deck  for  the  last  time.  Now  he 
only  shook  hands  with  her  as  he  did  with  the  rest. 

Once  more  their  lives  diverged.  He  went  off 
to  his  duties,  leaving  her  much  as  he  did  that  other 
time,  but  somehow  much  of  the  rebelliousness  and 
bitterness  were  gone. 

He  had  learned  far  better  than  she,  and  was  so 
far  her  superior,  that  awful  lesson  of  life  that  in 
some  way  or  other  here  below  we  must  suffer,  and 
happy  is  the  man  or  woman  who  suffers  for  the 
right  and  true,  yes,  even  for  the  inevitable,  instead 
of  the  consequences  of  his  own  folly  or  wicked- 
ness. 

They  were  soon  to  arrive  at  Detroit,  and  the 
ladies  were  busy  packing  and  arranging  what  the 
gentlemen  termed  "  the  general  plunder,"  collected 


HALF  MARRIED.  269 

during  the  past  week.  Miss  Huston  found  that  a 
"  mocock"  of  fine  maple-sugar  had  burst  open  and 
sifted  through  her  other  possessions.  Tom  said, 
"  Tis  sweet  to  be  remembered." 

Bessie  was  to  leave  on  the  night  train.  After 
Waring  left  she  realized  how  strong  the  desire  was 
to  get  back  to  her  children  and  to  Lennox.  Yes, 
she  really  would  be  glad  to  see  him  again,  though 
she  expected  the  same  tiresome  life.  But  she  did 
want  to  see  her  home.  She  found  a  couple  of 
letters  from  Lennox  about  every-day  matters. 
They  were  written  on  business  paper,  evidently  at 
his  business  desk.  "  Business"  always !  She 
wondered  if  he  had  taken  time  from  his  business 
to  read  the  long  enthusiastic  letters  she  had  writ- 
ten. She  feared  he  had  not.  Her  little  boy's 
letter  gave  her  unalloyed  pleasure.  There  was  no 
sense  of  duty  about  that  as  he  announced  an 
epoch  in  his  existence  and  "showed  off"  his 
newly  acquired  lore : 

"  Mama 

i    HAVE   PANTS   ON 
FOX    CAT   COW 

RAT   OX 

FRED." 
23* 


2/0 


HALF  MARRIED. 


Lennox  had  missed  his  wife  during  her  absence, 
but  realized  sadly,  not  at  all  triumphantly,  that  he 
could  exist  very  comfortably  without  her.  His 
children  were  more  his  own  than  they  had  ever 
been,  and  the  household,  being  for  some  years 
well  managed,  continued  on  to  his  satisfaction. 
His  wife  having  failed  him  in  so  much,  he  had 
ceased  to  regard  her  as  the  source  of  even  his 
most  trivial  and  ordinary  comforts. 

Bessie  arrived  at  their  temporary  home,  and 
Lennox  was  really  glad  to  see  her,  and  the  chil- 
dren were  overjoyed,  particularly  when  the  various 
little  presents  were  brought  to  view.  Bessie  was 
happier  than  she  had  been  for  a  long  time.  She 
had  seen  Waring  and  had  had  a  taste  of  the  old 
life,  but  she  could  speak  his  name  without  a 
blush,  and  look  the  world  still  in  the  face,  even 
if  rebelliously  and  defiantly. 

In  the  early  autumn  they  found  themselves 
again  in  town,  and  going  through  the  old  rounds. 
The  impulse  given  Bessie's  mental  and  physical 
energies  by  her  taste  of  out-door  life  carried  her 
on  hopefully  for  some  months,  but  before  spring 
the  old  depression  had  come  over  her,  and  she 
realized  that  she  was  not  so  young  as  she  once 


HALF  MARRIED.  2J  I 

was.  There  was  no  breaking  up,  she  was  far  too 
young  for  that,  but  it  was  getting  harder  to  fight, 
harder  to  seem  what  she  was  not.  Sometimes 
she  would  think  of  telling  Lennox  the  state  of 
affairs,  from  her  stand-point,  and  risk  everything, 
rather  than  lead  a  life  that  she  despised  for  its 
deception.  It  was  true  that  Lennox  had  been 
undemonstrative  to  coldness,  but  that  she  saw 
was  his  natural  disposition.  She  had  at  first  as- 
sumed an  indifference  that  was  not  natural  to  her, 
and  now  she  and  her  husband  were  both  suffering 
in  consequence.  Then  good  resolutions  were 
stilled  by  the  idea  that  she  would  never  be  for- 
given. And,  besides  that,  if  she  could  be  con- 
tent with  a  home,  clothes,  and  servants,  why 
should  she  risk  losing  these  by  enlightening  him 
upon  his  own  and  her  shortcomings  ? 

So,  with  that  mania  for  martyrdom,  real  or  im- 
agined, that  seems  occasionally  to  possess  women 
who  are  spared  all  real  afflictions,  and  are  other- 
wise strong  in  character  and  clear  in  mind,  she 
chose  to  attribute  her  unhappiness  to  the  hardness 
of  fate  rather  than  to  her  own  perverted  ideas  of 
what  her  husband  and  the  general  fitness  of  things 
should  be. 


272 


HALF  MARRIED. 


Upon  these  occasions  she  would  begin  her 
tramping  up  and  down,  what  Waring  used  to  call 
"  her  caged  tiger  exercise,"  and  gather  together  a 
cheerful  and  proper  countenance  before  the  arrival 
of  her  husband  at  dinner-time. 

Her  expression  had  changed  a  great  deal  during 
the  past  two  years.  In  conversation  her  face  was 
bright  and  animated  as  that  of  a  girl  of  sixteen,  but 
in  repose  there  were  sad,  but  at  the  same  time 
rather  hard  lines  about  her  mouth,  and  the  large 
gray  eyes  were  undeniably  pathetic.  The  impres- 
sion given  was  of  slight  weariness.  One  youthful 
and  unknown  admirer  had  written  to  her  as 
"  sweet  one  with  the  saddened  eyes."  She,  prop- 
erly but  cruelly,  handed  the  effusion  over  to  Len- 
nox and  Huntington  for  their  inspection.  The 
verses  were  really  very  pretty,  but  met  with  scath- 
ing criticism  from  these  two  superior  beings.  In 
fact,  men  were  always  interested  in  Mrs.  Lennox, 
and  some  said  "  her  gentle,  tired  expression  was 
so  beautiful  it  suggested  some  hidden  sorrow,"  etc. 

Women  said,  "What  stuff  and  nonsense!  it's 
being  up  all  night  and  on  the  go  all  day.  They 
say  she  never  had  an  ache  or  pain  in  her  life,  and 
that  she  does  more  in  a  day  than  most  of  us  do  in 


HALF  MARRIED.  273 

three.  She  is  with  her  children  a  great  deal,  en- 
tertains a  great  deal,  goes  to  church  a  great  deal, 
does  a  great  deal  of  everything,  in  fact  lives  an 
awfully  fast  life ;  that  is,  her  pace  is  too  fast,  not 
wild.  Some  day  she  will  go  to  pieces  suddenly, 
— she  won't  keep  it  up  forever, — and  then  you 
men  won't  think  so  much  of  her  sentimental 
eyes." 

About  a  year  from  this  time  the  daily  papers 
contained  an  item  one  day  scarce  glanced  at  by 
the  large  majority  of  readers.  It  said  that  the 
Indians  were  once  more  rising  on  the  frontier.  It 
was  the  old  story  of  lying  whites  and  blood- 
thirsty savages. 

Waring,  Arthur,  and  Carsten  were  once  more 
together  in  the  West. 

Bessie  read  every  word  about  these  troubles 
that  to  her  were  so  horribly  real,  but  never  spoke 
of  them. 

One  morning  at  breakfast,  as  Lennox  glanced 
over  his  paper,  he  said, — 

"Why,  Bessie,  our  old  friend,  Mr.  Arthur,  is  on 
frontier  duty  again,  I  see." 

"  Yes,  poor  fellow,"  was  her  only  comment,  and 
she  almost  choked  as  she  said  that  much. 


274  HALF  MARRIED. 

There  was  nothing  satisfactory  to  be  gained  by 
the  papers.  She  read  them  morning  and  evening. 
She  bought  extras,  and  was  distracted  with  fear 
for  Arthur  and  her  old  friends  as  well  as  for  War- 
ing. The  days  dragged  on  as  she  read  these  un- 
satisfactory accounts,  while  she  went  about  as 
usual  with  the  regular  routine  of  life.  She  had 
become  so  nervous  that  the  least  sound  made  her 
start,  and  so  preoccupied  that  she  answered  ques- 
tions at  random. 

An  opera-party  had  been  arranged  for  the  fol- 
lowing evening.  Bessie  had  accepted  days  before, 
and  now  had  no  excuse  to  offer.  One  thing  com- 
forted her,  she  would  not  be  expected  to  talk  or 
entertain  any  one.  Her  hostess  on  this  occasion 
was  a  lady  of  fashion,  whose  whole  existence  was 
arranged  as  much  as  possible  for  "  effect."  She 
came  over  in  the  morning  to  see  Mrs.  Lennox  in 
regard  to  her  costume.  She  was  to  do  her  the 
favor'  not  to  wear  pale  blue,  that  was  to  be  the 
privilege  of  her  sister,  a  debutante. 

These  trifles  acted  on  Bessie's  troubled  mind  as 
the  hair-cloth  girdles  of  old  did  on  the  bodies  of 
the  saints. 

"  How,"  she  thought,  "  can  people  be  so  earnest 


HALF  MARRIED. 

over  such  small  matters  when  women  are  being 
murdered  and  men  shot  in  their  own  country?" 

After  the  details  of  the  toilette  were  arranged 
the  votary  of  effectiveness  rose  to  depart.  Then 
it  fortunately  came  over  Bessie  that  she  had  not 
heard  a  word  of  the  numerous  directions. 

"  Oh,  forgive  me,  my  head  aches  a  little ;  what 
did  you  say  for  me  to  wear?" 

"  I  said  your  ivory  satin  with  the  Spanish  lace. 
It  is  Rose's  coming  out.  I  want  it  to  be  the  hand- 
somest opera-party  this  season.  I'll  send  your 
bouquet, — pink  roses.  We  will  meet  in  the  lobby. 
We'll  go  to  the  Brunswick  afterwards  for  supper. 
Wear  your  dark  blue  velvet  cloak  with  the  er- 
mine lining.  It  will  be  so  effective  thrown  over 
the  back  of  your  chair.  It  will  set  off  your 
white  dress — I  shall  not  say  anything  about 
yourself — to  such  advantage.  I  hope  you  have 
heard  me  this  time;  do  not  disappoint  me  on  any 
account." 

As  the  voluble  visitor  withdrew  Bessie  smiled 
as  she  thought,  "  Yes,  that  woman  invited  Fred 
and  me  to  her  opera-party  just  as  she  fills  her 
house  with  rugs  and  bric-a-brac !  There  is  a  par- 
ticular nook  in  which  we  are  '  effective.'  Now  for 


276  HALF  MARRIED. 

the  papers.  '  By  telegraph.  A  special  to  the  New 
York  Herald,  dated  yesterday,  says  that  a  detach- 
ment of  the  — th,  under  Captain  Carsten,  is  scour- 
ing the  San  Filippo  Mountains  in  hot  pursuit  of 
the  Indians,  and  not  more  than  eight  or  ten  hours 
behind.  A  fight  is  expected  to-morrow.'  " 

With  this  news  in  her  mind  she  went,  with  a 
heavy  heart,  into  her  own  apartment  to  arrange  to 
her  friend's  satisfaction  that  toilette  of  satin  and 
lace.  She  had  not  been  long  at  this  occupation 
when  her  maid  arrived  with  a  message. 

"  Mr.  Fielding,  ma'am,  wants  to  see  you  very 
particularly,  and  begs  pardon  for  coming  so  early." 

"  Yes,  Elsie,  I  will  go  right  down.  Get  every- 
thing ready  for  me  to-night,  I'm  not  well." 

Bessie  found  Fielding  with  such  a  glorified  ex- 
pression of  countenance  she  perceived  that  some- 
thing unusual  had  occurred.  He  had  come  to 
announce  his  engagement  to  Miss  Howard, — that 
same  Miss  Howard  who  had  more  than  once 
laughed  at  him  for  his  admiration  for  Mrs.  Len- 
nox,— and,  to  celebrate  this  event,  he  was  going  to 
break  over  his  strict  rules  and  go  to  the  opera 
that  evening  with  the  party. 

"  You  know  a  man  must  do  something  out  of 


HALF  MARRIED.  277 

the  ordinary  when  he  is  engaged,  particularly  after 
trying  so  long." 

His  happiness  had  made  him  daring.  Bessie 
endeavored  to  express  herself  in  proper  terms, 
but  Fielding  saw  that  she  was  preoccupied  and 
nervous.  At  that  moment  a  newsboy's  screech 
was  heard,  and  she  rose  suddenly  to  her  feet,  flew 
to  the  front  door,  and  called  after  the  boy.  Field- 
ing stood  astonished  between  the  windows,  and 
was  still  gazing  blankly  at  the  wavy  portiere  when 
Bessie  returned  with  her  "  extra." 

She  would  have  procured  it  in  the  face  of  a 
whole  general  convention  as  soon  as  in  the  pres- 
ence of  this  one  quiet  young  priest. 

"  Mr.  Fielding,  do  you  remember  Mr.  Arthur  ? 
He  and  some  of  our  friends  are  fighting  the  In- 
dians, and  I  want  all,  all  the  news  I  can  get.  Here 
it  is : '  The  fight  between  our  forces  and  the  In- 
dians took  place  in  the  San  Filippo  Canon  as 
expected.  Two  officers  and  ten  men  are  reported 
killed.  Troops  and  scouts  are  following  the  In- 
dians.' 

"  Think  of  it,  Mr.  Fielding  !  Isn't  it  horrible  ? 
My  friends  may  be  dead,  and  to-night  I  am  going 
to  the  opera!  Isn't  it  dreadful  to  be  a  woman  ? 
24 


2/8 


HALF  MARRIED. 


Now  go  away,  leave  me ;  to-night  we  will  know 
the  worst." 

He  hesitated  a  moment  and  left  her.  She 
seated  herself  on  the  sofa  with  her  hands  over  her 
eyes  and  thought,  "  No,  not  the  worst ;  I  cannot 
bear  that !" 

She  felt  it  necessary  to  keep  up  till  the  evening 
paper  arrived,  otherwise  she  would  have  confessed 
herself  ill,  as  she  really  was.  If  she  should  have 
no  further  news  she  would  ask  Lennox  to  go 
himself  to  headquarters  and  find  out  what  he 
could  for  her. 

In  the  afternoon  there  were  no  extras.  In  the 
evening  paper  there  was  no  news,  but  quite  late  a 
note  arrived  from  Lennox.  He  would  not  be 
home  for  dinner,  as  an  important  business  en- 
gagement had  been  made  for  him.  His  dress 
suit  was  to  be  sent  to  his  office,  and  he  would, 
in  all  probability,  meet  the  opera-party  at  the 
time  appointed. 

After  the  long  day  evening  came,  and  there  was 
nothing  new.  It  flashed  through  Bessie's  mind 
that  there  was  one  more  chance.  As  her  husband 
would  not  be  there  to  go  to  the  telegraph-office, 
she  would  go  herself.  As  she  hastily  began  dress- 


HALF  MARRIED. 

ing  she  told  Elsie  to  "  send  word  to  Joseph  that  I 
want  the  coupe  in  half  an  hour."  The  maid 
looked  astonished  and  descended  with  the  order. 
She  returned  and  assisted  her  mistress  with  the 
beautiful  creamy  toilette.  She  selected  a  hand- 
some pendant,  always  worn  with  the  costume,  but 
Bessie  pushed  it  aside  for  the  little  cross  that  she 
never  allowed  any  one  to  touch.  Elsie  had  never 
seen  her  mistress  "that  obstinate,"  and  wondered 
at  her  appearing  with  such  an  insignificant  orna- 
ment and  in  such  a  bad  humor. 

"  Mrs.  Lennox,  you  are  that  sick  you  are  trem- 
bling all  over." 

"  Elsie,  if  you  don't  hush  you  will  drive  me 
mad.  Keep  quiet,  get  my  blue  wrap,  and  see  if 
the  coupe  has  come." 

The  coupe  had  come,  and  Elsie,  putting  on  a 
bravery  she  did  not  feel,  walked  into  her  mistress's 
room  with  a  glass  of  sherry. 

"  Mrs.  Lennox,  if  you  don't  drink  this  glass  of 
wine  I'll  be  that  nervous  about  you  I'll  not  sleep 
a  wink." 

Bessie  thanked  her  and  drank  the  wine,  and  the 
maid  brought  out  overshoes  and  wraps.  Bessie 
looked  at  her  watch.  The  time  was  passing. 


280  HALF  MARRIED. 

"No,  Elsie,  I  haven't  time;  just  give  me  some- 
thing to  put  over  my  head." 

A  piece  of  lace  like  the  dress  trimming  was  the 
first  thing  convenient,  and  Bessie  flung  it  over  her 
head. 

"  Now,  Elsie,  take  my  fan,  and  I  will  follow  you 
in  a  moment." 

The  children,  who  generally  watched  the  robing 
of  "  my  pretty  mamma,"  had  been  banished  this 
evening.  Bessie  kissed  them  good-night,  and, 
gathering  up  her  flowing  skirts,  descended  the 
stairs. 

"  Give  me  my  gloves  and  fan,  Elsie.  Don't 
come  out  with  me,  it's  too  cold." 

The  cold  was  indeed  intense.  The  ground  was 
hardly  covered  with  snow,  but  what  there  was 
crunched  under  foot  with  that  cruel  gritting  sound 
that  announces  the  mercury  at  the  zero  point. 

Bessie  had  never  before  given  an  order  to  a  ser- 
vant that  implied  an  understanding  between  them 
and  her.  To-night  she  felt  humiliated,  as  she  said, 
as  coolly  as  she  could, — 

"  Joseph,  drive  me  directly  to  the  — th  Street 
Herald  office.  I  will  stop  there  a  moment,  and 
then  to  the  Academy.  Get  me  there  before  eight 


HALF  MARRIED.  28l 

o'clock,  and,  Joseph,  keep  quiet  about  it.  Do  you 
understand  ?" 

Joseph  almost  dropped  the  reins  in  his  astonish- 
ment at  the  turn  of  affairs,  as  he  answered,  "  Yes, 
madam,  I  do."  And  as  fast  as  was  safe  to  escape 
police  regulations  and  collisions  the  little  coupe 
dashed  down-town,  and  stopped  in  front  of  the 
bulletin-board  of  a  "  branch  office." 

The  gas  shone  directly  on  the  blackboard,  and, 
in  spite  of  the  severe  cold,  more  than  the  usual 
number  of  men  were  collected  about  it. 

Only  desperation  can  make  a  refined  woman  do 
anything  vulgarly  conspicuous.  She  sat  there  in 
her  coupe  irresolute.  Through  the  perfect  plate 
glass  the  employes  on  the  first  floor  were  plainly 
visible.  Now  that  she  was  there  she  had  no  idea 
where  to  go  or  whom  to  ask  for  information,  but 
something  she  must  do.  She  flung  her  train  over 
her  arm,  the  lace  had  fallen  from  her  head,  and 

• 

with  slippered  feet  she  stepped  to  the  pavement.  A 
few  hard  white  snowflakes  were  in  her  hair.  Her 
face  was  white  even  to  her  lips,  while  a  red  spot 
glowed  on  each  cheek.  As  she  stood  on  the  pave- 
ment, confused  by  the  peculiarity  of  her  situation 

and  the  brilliancy  of  the  gaslight,  a  telegraph  clerk 
24* 


282  HALF  MARRIED. 

came  from  the  office.  He  held  his  overcoat  to- 
gether at  the  collar  with  his  left  hand  as  with  the 
chalk  in  his  right  he  wrote  the  latest  news.  After 
one  or  two  lines,  he  wrote  down, — 

"  The  names  of  the  two  officers  killed  in  the 
San  Filippo  Canon  were  Captain  William  Carsten 
and  Lieutenant  Charles  Waring !" 

Bessie  stood  perfectly  still.  Her  hands  had 
dropped  to  her  sides.  The  velvet  cloak  had  slipped 
from  her  shoulders,  and  fur,  lace,  and  velvet  lay 
in  a  mass  on  the  ground.  She  mechanically  en- 
tered her  carriage,  and  was  rapidly  driven  off 
before  the  bystanders  had  recovered  from  their 
amazement. 

As  she  stepped  from  her  carriage  at  the  opera- 
house  she  was  not  so  absorbed  in  herself  but  that 
she  saw  the  forlorn  old  man  who  held  open  the 
carriage-door  for  her,  the  poor  little  newsboy, 
blowing  his  fingers  and  shivering  under  his  scant 
garments,  and  the  little  Italian,  almost  a  baby,  cry- 
ing out  the  librettos,  and  suddenly  she  felt  over- 
whelmed with  the  sorrow  of  the  whole  world. 
Her  past  selfish  indifference  to  all  troubles  but  her 
own  made  her  ashamed.  She  did  another  unheard- 
of  thing:  she  asked  her  coachman  to  lend  her 


HALF  MARRIED.  283 

some  change.  She  gave  some  to  each  of  the  sup- 
pliants, from  an  old  hag  she  bought  a  bunch  of 
half-frozen  roses,  which  she  gave  to  the  baby  with 
the  librettos,  and  then  entered  the  brilliantly- 
lighted  house. 

If  the  rich  often  forget  and  are  cruelly  indiffer- 
ent to  the  physical  woes  of  the  poor,  the  poor 
often  forget  that  velvet  and  lace  and  a  smiling 
face  cover  many  a  breaking  heart.  When  the  rich 
learn  to  understand  the  outward  and  visible  suffer- 
ing of  the  poor,  and  the  poor  learn  the  fact  that 
all,  even  the  rich,  have  their  own  particular  burden 
to  bear,  the  great  reconciliation  of  the  conflicting 
classes  will  be  accomplished,  and  until  each  side 
is  thus  enlightened  it  will  not  be. 

She  joined  the  party  just  in  time  to  prevent  her 
hostess  from  getting  into  a  state  of  excitement. 
She  had  recovered  from  the  first  shock  of  the 
news,  and  was  in  that  stunned  condition  of  being 
when  one  is  only  conscious  of  a  dull,  all-pervading 
ache  of  soul  and  body. 

Lennox  was  only  a  moment  behind  her,  and 
after  asking  her  about  the  children  he  dropped 
back  to  the  lady  that  had  been  assigned  to  his 
care  for  the  evening. 


284 


HALF  MARRIED. 


Upon  entering  the  box  Bessie  raised  her  eye- 
brows at  Fielding,  and  he,  taking  the  hint,  came 
to  her. 

"  Mr.  Fielding,  as  you  are  engaged,  all  women 
are  alike  to  you  save  one.  Now  if  you  stay 
with  me  this  evening  I  will  be  grateful  to  you 
always.  I  am  too  much  distressed  to  talk  to  a 
stranger." 

"  I  will  be  most  happy  to  do  anything  I  can  for 
you.  Have  you  seen  the  names  in  the  news- 
paper ?" 

There  was  no  way  of  avoiding  the  question  if 
she  had  wished  to. 

"Yes;  they  are  Captain  Carsten  and  Lieutenant 
Waring,  two  of  my  father's  officers,  one  of  them 
an  old  and  dear  friend." 

Fielding,  seeing  her  agitation  was  very  great, 
dropped  the  dangerous  subject. 

They  began  to  arrange  themselves  for  the  enter- 
tainment. Fielding  placed  himself  nearest  the 
stage,  and  with  gentle  consideration  seated  Bessie 
next,  so  that  either  looking  at  the  opera  or  talking 
to  him  her  back  would  be  partially  turned  to  the 
box-party.  It  was  to  be  a  great  musical  event. 
The  large  building  was  a  beautiful  sight,  filled  with 


HALF  MARRIED.  285 

handsomely-dressed  women,  lights,  and  flowers. 
A  sweet  German  prima  donna  and  a  rare  Italian 
tenor  were  to  take  the  leading  parts. 

Bessie  heard  the  singing  as  if  in  a  dream.  She 
was  nervously  handling  the  beautiful  pink  roses 
that  were  a  part  of  the  effective  management  of 
the  party-giver,  lost  in  thought  and  yet  trying  to 
keep  from  thinking.  When  Linda  entered  with 
the  flowers  that  Carlo  had  left  her,  Bessie  leaned 
over  to  at  least  appear  interested.  Whether  she 
had  forgotten  or  had  never  known  the  opera,  when 
the  sweet  Linda  stepped  to  the  front  of  the  stage 
and  began  with  her  clear,  tender  tones, — 

"  Oh,  star  that  guidest  my  fervent  love,  thou  art  life  and  light  to 
me," 

she  was  almost  petrified.  It  was  like  a  voice 
coming  to  her  from  the  dead.  The  familiar  air  in 
that  crowded,  gay  assembly  where  all  were  sup- 
posed to  be  happy  and  amused  came  like  a  mes- 
sage from  another  world.  After  the  first  shock  it 
quieted  and  calmed  her.  At  the  end  she  carelessly 
tossed  the  roses  to  the  diva,  who  received  them 
gracefully. 

Mrs.  Lennox's  impulsive  acknowledgment  of  her 


286  HALF  MARRIED. 

powers  started  quite  a  furore,  and  to  Bessie's  un- 
utterable happiness  she  responded  to  the  bravas, 
and  sung  again,  "  Oh  luce  de  quest'  anima" 

Before  the  end  of  the  opera  a  telegram  was 
brought  to  Lennox.  He  was  called  to  Boston  as 
soon  as  possible  on  important  business.  He  had 
a  little  conversation  with  his  wife,  left  her  some 
directions,  and  put  her  in  Fielding's  care.  He 
would  leave  before  the  supper.  She  begged  to 
leave  with  him ;  pleaded  "  feeling  badly."  She 
was  ready  to  tell  him  much,  perhaps  all.  With 
none  of  that  instinctive  appreciation  so  natural  to 
men  of  more  genial  mould,  he  saw  nothing  un- 
usual in  his  wife's  manner  or  appearance,  and  said 
it  would  never  do  for  them  both  to  leave. 

Bessie  went  with  the  rest  to  the  supper.  She 
got  home  in  the  wee  small  hours.  The  agony  of 
that  entertainment  she  never  forgot,  and  from  that 
time  forward  excused  herself  from  late  suppers. 
Her  children  were  sleeping  quietly,  and  she  looked 
at  her  little  daughter  and  wished  her  dead  rather 
than  fated  to  live  a  life  like  her  own.  Elsie  was 
awakened  and  sent  to  her  own  room.  Then  Bessie 
stirred  up  her  fire,  locked  herself  in  her  room,  and 
gave  way  to  her  grief.  She  was  far  past  the 


HALF  MARRIED.  28/ 

weeping  stage.     She   remained   unconsciously  in 
full  dress,  only  taking  off  her  gloves. 

All  Waring's  little  notes  she  read  and  re-read. 
Then  all  the  keepsakes  that  were  perishable  she 
threw  into  the  flames.  Nothing  was  left  of  him 
in  this  world  but  memories. 

She  sat  rigid  the  night  through,  staring  into  the 
dying  fire.  The  handsome  cloak  lay  in  a  heap  on 
the  floor,  and  a  lace  flounce  hung  from  her  rum- 
pled train.  What  did  she  see  in  that  smouldering 
fire  ?  The  real  picture, — a  haggard,  middle-aged 
man,  soiled,  unshaven,  and  begrimed,  with  an 
unsightly  wound  in  his  left  side  ?  No  woman  is 
fair-minded  enough  to  see  so  clearly.  She  saw 
her  old  boy  lover,  still  young,  still  beautiful,  asleep 
on  the  grass  in  the  woods,  with  the  words  "  I 
love  you"  on  his  lips,  and  with  that  beautiful  but- 
terfly, for  so  many  generations  of  men  the  emblem 
of  the  soul,  hovering  over  him  to  receive  his  de- 
parting spirit. 

How  she  wished  that  Lennox  had  brought  her 
back,  as  she  had  asked  him  to !  It  was  all  over 
now,  perhaps  she  could  have  told  him.  He 
would  have  understood  and  let  her  begin  life 
anew. 


288  HALF  MARRIED. 

When  the  city  began  to  wake  to  life,  Bessie, 
worn  out,  took  a  short  rest.  Elsie  said,  as  her 
mistress  appeared  below, — 

"  Mrs.  Lennox,  you  look  as  if  you  were  going 
to  die." 

"  Well,  Elsie,  I  am  not  going  to  die ;  I'll  prob- 
ably live  to  be  a  hundred.  Are  there  any  let- 
ters ?" 

"  Yes,  there's  one." 

It  was  from  Bessie's  old  friend,  the  Bishop  of 
Walla  Ha.  He  was  building  a  little  church  at  a 
military  fort,  would  she  help  him  ?  Yes,  of  course 
she  would,  but  put  the  matter  aside  for  a  time. 

The  paper  gave  no  news  further  than  she  had 
learned  the  night  before.  But  she  saw  that 
"  Linda"  was  to  be  performed  again  that  evening, 
and  dressing  herself  very  plainly,  she  started  to 
the  opera  alone.  She  was  half  frightened  at  this 
piece  of  daring.  She  got  her  ticket  to  the  family 
circle,  and  went  up,  up,  up  into  the  amphitheatre. 
It  was  a  strange  sensation  to  look  down  from  that 
height  on  the  boxes  and  circles,  where  she  could 
recognize  many  acquaintances.  It  was  like  look- 
ing down  on  one's  own  old  world  from  another 
sphere.  The  people  up  here  were  so  different 


HALF  MARRIED.  28o 

from  those  below.  They  were  many  of  them 
more  than  respectably  dressed,  while  some  were 
shabby.  Some  were  professionals,  men  and 
women,  with  the  score  before  them.  Some  had 
evidently  pinched  and  saved  their  pennies  to  in- 
dulge in  this,  to  them,  greatest  of  all  pleasure. 
All  about  there  was  an  air  of  intense  and  earnest 
enjoyment,  never  shown,  probably  never  felt,  by 
those  who  go  to  entertainments  to  be  seen  as  much 
as  to  see  and  enjoy.  A  middle-aged  man  gave 
up  his  seat  the  entire  evening  to  a  lame  old  gen- 
tleman with  a  cane,  and  Bessie  realized,  what  all 
of  us  do  not,  that  the  amenities  of  life  extend  up- 
ward, or  perhaps  downward,  and  even  reach  past 
the  family  circle  to  the  amphitheatre;  that  the 
boxes  do  not  monopolize  the  courtesies  and  kind 
feelings  of  life. 

As  she  looked  round  the  vast  assembly  from  this 
position,  a  sight  so  new  to  her,  she  wondered  if 
any  one  ever  went  to  an  opera  before  to  hear  a  re- 
quiem sung  in  the  notes  of  a  love-song.  Between 
the  acts  she  heard  two  young  girls  comparing  the 
present  box-party  with  the  corresponding  one  of 
the  night  previous,  and  telling  of  a  beautiful  young 
lady  who  started  the  applause  by  tossing  down  a 
K  t  25 


290 


HALF  MARRIED. 


beautiful  bouquet.  Before  the  close,  Bessie  fear- 
ing recognition,  started  home.  On  the  way  she 
met  Fielding.  He  was  coming  home  late  from 
some  errand  of  mercy,  and  met  her  directly  under 
a  gaslight.  She  was  hardly  sorry  to  find  him,  but 
he  said,  reprovingly, — 

"  Mrs.  Lennox,  don't  you  know  it  is  dangerous 
and  indecent  for  you  to  be  out  at  such  an  hour, 
and  alone  ?" 

"  Mr.  Fielding,  two  of  my  old  friends  are  killed. 
I  am  greatly  distressed.  I  could  not  stay  quietly 
at  home.  It  is  terrible  to  do  nothing  when  one  is 

• 

miserable ;  one  can  stand  the  day,  but  the  night, — 
and  to  be  all  alone !  One  of  them " 

"  Used  to  sing  '  Oh  luce  di  guest'  anima,'  and 
gave  you  violets, — and  you  loved  him  ?" 

"  Mr.  Fielding," — and  she  looked  at  him  un- 
flinchingly under  the  vestibule  light  of  her  own 
door-way, — "yes,  I  loved  him;  Charles  Waring, 
United  States  Army !  I  found  out  when  it  was 
too  late  that  I  loved  him.  He  is  dead  now,  and  I 
dare  not  even  mourn  for  him.  Do  you  under- 
stand ? — dead  ? — to-night  ?  One  night  I  have  worn 
black,  to-morrow  the  gay  clothes  and  the  gay  life 
again.  Oh  !  I  despise  it  all." 


HALF  MARRIED.  2gl 

"  Oh,  Mrs.  Lennox,  and  your  husband,  do  you 
not  love  him  ?" 

"  I  did  once,  very  truly,  but  he  don't  care  for 
my  love,  or  any  one's.  I  do  yet  a  little,  but  I 
think  it  will  not  be  for  long.  He  would  not  take 
me  home  last  night  when  I  begged  him  to.  He 
never  feels.  He  only  sees  and  reasons." 

"  Mrs.  Lennox,  this  to  me  is  most  horrible." 

"  It  should  not  be.  You  know  that  '  most  of  us 
who  have  reached  thirty  have  our  Pompeii' ;  I  have 
not  reached  thirty.  Perhaps  my  ashes  are  no 
blacker  or  deeper  than  yours  will  be." 

"  Mrs.  Lennox,  may  I  meet  your  quotation  with 
a  better  one  ?  '  Always  there  is  a  black  spot  in 
our  sunshine ;  it  is  even  the  shadow  of  ourselves.' 
I  beg  as  a  friend,  as  a  priest  of  God,  that  you  will 
not  obstinately  overshadow  your  own  life.  Good- 
night, good-night !" 

As  he  turned  to  make  his  adieux  he  noticed, 
for  the  first  time,  a  few  white  threads  in  Bessie's 
brown  locks.  The  sorrow  of  the  past  few  days 
showed  in  her  white  face,  and  the  thought  sad- 
dened him,  as  it  flashed,  for  the  first  time,  into  his 
mind  that  this  beautiful  woman  was  becoming  old, 
hard,  and  disappointed. 


292  HALF  MARRIED. 

About  a  month  after  this  Bessie  saw  by  the 
paper  that  "  First  Lieutenant  Arthur,  First  Cav- 
alry, had  been  ordered  to  report  in  person  to  the 
superintendent  of  the  United  States  Military 
Academy,  West  Point,  New  York,  for  duty  as 
adjutant  of  the  Academy, fie?  First  Lieutenant  M. 
D.  Brown,  Artillery,  to  be  relieved." 

About  the  time  he  reported, ,  she  received  a 
small  express  package  directed  in  his  well-known 
hand.  With  trembling  fingers  she  cut  the  string, 
and  there,  without  comment  or  word,  lay  her 
mother's  old  Prayer  Book  and  her  little  pin.  Ar- 
thur had  not  dared  write  about  the  brave  death  of 
his  old  comrade,  that  was  public  property.  His 
few  effects  were  gathered  together  to  send  to  his 
childless  mother  in  the  East.  These  two  he  sent 
where  he  thought  they  belonged. 

Bessie  had  grown  more  gentle  and  patient. 
Perhaps  her  trouble  was  beginning  to  soften  her. 
Perhaps,  as  she  grew  older,  she  longed  still  more 
for  the  companionship  that  always  seemed  within 
reach  and  yet  impossible  to  have. 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  last  mementos  of 
her  lover,  she  thought  with  compunction  how 
long  the  good  bishop's  letter  had  remained  unan- 


HALF  MARRIED.  2Q\ 

swered.     After  dinner  one  night  she  said  to  her 
husband, — 

"  Fred,  here  is  a  letter  from  the  bishop  of  Walla 
Ha.  I  would  like  to  send  him  something  for  his 
little  church." 

"Well,  what  shall  it  be?" 

"  I  would  like  a  chalice  and  paten,  if  it  is  not 
too  much." 

"  Certainly  not.     You  had  better  get  it  imme- 
diately.   I  see  the  letter  is  over  a  month  old ;  you 
have  been  rather  careless  about  it." 
"  Will  you  come  with  me  to  get  it  ?" 
"  No,  that's  rather  out  of  my  line.     You  get  it 
at  Tiffany's;  I'll  pay  the  bill,  that  will  be  my  share." 
A  few  days  after,  the  cup  and  paten  were  or- 
dered.    Under  a  little  gold  crown  in  the  chalice, 
sunk  into  the  silver,  was  the  little  gold  cross  and 
diamond  star,  and  underneath  the  paten,  out  of 
sight,   was   the   bayonet   and    little   heart.      "  In 
memoriam  C.  W."  was  all  the  inscription. 

The  gift  was  sent  off  with  its  accompanying 
check,  and  her  dear  old  friend  wrote  his  thanks 
and  his  blessing  to  "  his  daughter."  "  The  gift  was 
like  her  own  self,  good,  substantial,  sweet,  and  al- 
together charming." 

25* 


HALF  MARRIED. 

As  that  little  communion  set,  at  St.  Paul's  in 
the  mountains,  was  shown  to  tourists  in  a  far-away 
corner  of  our  country,  many  were  the  various 
surmises  and  romances  imagined  by  those  who 
beheld  the  little  chalice.  The  cross  was  easily 
accounted  for,  but  the  pin  ?  Well,  it  was  gener- 
ally concluded  that  "  C.  W."  was  a  soldier  who 
carried  a  musket  with  a  bayonet  on  it. 

In  the  fall  Bessie  had  a  note  from  an  acquaint- 
ance. An  aunt  of  hers  was  to  spend  the  winter 
with  her.  She  knew  of  Mrs.  Lennox  and  General 
Lansing  very  well.  In  fact,  her  son,  Lieutenant 
Waring,  had  been  in  the  general's  company. 
Would  Mrs.  Lennox  please  come  and  see  her? 
It  would  be  a  great  favor,  etc.  "  Mrs.  Waring 
being  in  deep  mourning  is  always  at  home  in  the 
evening." 

Bessie  wondered  if  her  self-possession  was  al- 
ways to  be  thus  tried.  There  was  nothing  to  do 
but  consent,  so  one  evening  when  she  and  Lennox 
were  going  out  together  she  told  him  she  must 
make  a  call,  and  would  send  the  coupe  back  for 
him ;  that  half  an  hour  was  all  the  time  she  wanted. 
She  did  not  quite  like  the  idea  of  calling  in  dinner 
dress,  but  she  was  requested  to  come  in  the  even- 


HALF  MARRIED.  2Q$ 

ing,  and  as  evenings  were  few  and  short,  and  en- 
gagements many  and  long,  she  started  to  do  her 
duty.  She  found  her  friend  and  Mrs.  Waring  at 
home.  The  latter  was  a  slight,  delicate  woman, 
who,  though  not  old,  had  very  white  hair.  Her 
features  were  regular  and  had  that  unmistakable 
look  of  sorrow,  that  gentle,  "  made  perfect  through 
suffering"  expression,  so  different  from  the  ago- 
nized faces  of  the  women  who  have  been  made 
old  and  wrinkled  through  disgrace  and  shame, 
heaped  upon  them  by  the  men  and  women  who 
should  have  been  their  protectors  and  comforters. 
As  she  rose  to  welcome  the  younger  woman  and 
smiled  pleasantly,  the  resemblance  to  her  son  was 
striking.  The  son  being  so  much  the  image  of 
the  mother  almost  always  implies  either  that  the 
woman's  face  is  too  masculine  for  womanly  beauty, 
or  that  the  son  seems  effeminate.  Waring's  thin 
and  generally  closed  lips  alone  had  saved  him 
from  this  imputation. 

As  Lennox  called  for  Bessie  after  her  formal 
call,  and  she  rose  to  adjust  her  wrap,  Mrs.  Waring 
kindly  urged  her  to  come  again.  She  "  had  many 
old  friends  that  Mrs.  Lennox  could  tell  her  about. 
It  would  be  quite  a  treat,"  etc. 


296  HALF  MARRIED. 

Bessie's  visits  became  frequent.  She  enjoyed 
this  lady's  companionship.  Of  intimate  friends 
she  had  almost  none.  To  her  the  great,  impor- 
tant organization  of  the  country  was  the  United 
States  Army.  The  women  she  met  in  every-day 
life  had  not  the  slightest  interest  in  military  affairs, 
and  among  them  she  felt  herself  an  outsider,  and 
had  a  silent  though  unspoken  contempt  for  a 
"  woman  who  didn't  know  an  ambulance  from  an 
artillery-wagon." 

Mrs.  Waring  had  consented  to  lunch  with  Bes- 
sie on  several  occasions  when  they  were  alone,  and 
the  friendship  progressed  finely.  They  talked  over 
old  friends,  and  Bessie  told  her  much  of  her  son 
and  their  life  at  Fort  Derby.  One  day  after  Bes- 
sie had  been  telling  her  some  story,  in  which 
Arthur  and  Waring  figured  conspicuously,  she 
said, — 

"  Oh,  Mrs.  Waring,  you  must  get  awfully  tired 
of  hearing  me  chatter,  but  you  know  it  is  only 
once  in  years  that  I  have  a  chance  to  talk  to  any 
one  that  will  listen  to  me.  You  know  I  haven't — 
I  was  going  to  say  ever  had — any  mother ;  from 
almost  the  first  that  I  can  remember  she  was  so 
anxious  about  father  that  I  never  dared  say  army 


HALF  MARRIED. 

to  her  for  fear  she  would  cry,  so  I  hope  you  will 

forgive  me." 

Mrs.  Waring  affectionately  replied,  "  My  child, 

I  can  never  tire  hearing  one  talk  who  has  loved 

my  son." 
She  did  not  mean  anything  more  than  "my 

son's  friend,"  but  Bessie  started,  and,  looking  at 
her,  burst  into  tears. 

"  Yes,  and  you  too,  then,  have  discovered  that 
I  loved  your  son  ?  Why  is  it  that  my  one  crime 
must  be  always  brought  before  me  ?  Perhaps  you 
wonder  why  I  didn't  marry  him?  Forgive  me 
when  I  tell  you  I  had  some  nonsensical  idea  that 
because  he  did  not  reach  to  my  father's  high 
standard  in  matters  of  religion  and  duty,  that  he 
was  only  a  boy,  and  little  better  than  a  heathen, 
that  in  consequence  of  this  I  would  not  be  happy 
with  him.  So  I  thought  I  had  forgotten  him. 
Then  when  it  was  too  late  I  found  he  was  not  for- 
gotten. Then  there  was  no  consolation  to  be 
found  in  religion,  or  duty,  or  common  sense,  or 
anything  I  had  sacrificed  him  to.  I  tell  you," 
and  she  rose  vehemently  to  her  feet,  "I  have 
nothing  left, — nothing !" 

The  elderly  lady  tried  to  calm  her,  softly  saying, 


298 


HALF  MARRIED. 


"  My  child,  do  you  think  you  are  the  only  one 
who  suffers  ?  My  husband,  my  daughter,  my 
son,  are  taken  from  me.  Is  that  nothing  ?" 

Bessie  confronted  her  with  some  of  the  savage- 
ness  of  her  girlhood  days. 

"  Suffering  ?  You  don't  know  what  it  is !  I 
suppose  when  you  received  that  horrible  telegram 
that  you  spent  the  night  on  your  knees  in  tears 
and  in  prayer.  Do  you  think  I  ever  have  a 
chance  for  tears  ?  When  you  were  on  your  knees 
I  was  at  the  opera  and  at  a  grand  supper  after- 
wards. I  could  not  even  confess  to  my  small 
world  that  a  friend  was  gone.  I  am  so  unfortu- 
nately strong  that  I  have  to  march  right  along. 
No  one  thinks  of  helping  me  no  matter  how  much 
I  need  it.  Then,  is  it  nothing  to  live  a  lie  ?  If  I 
dared,  I  would  tell  my  husband  that  as  he  cares 
so  little  for  me  I  have  ceased  to  care  for  him.  I 
do  not  think  he  would  refuse  me  shelter  and 
clothes.  It's  all  I  have  now.  No  doubt  it  is  more 
than  I  deserve.  It  was  not  so  at  the  beginning. 
I  loved  him  as  long  as  he  would  let  me.  Then  I 
looked  backward.  I  do  not  hope  ever  to  look 
forward  again." 

What  mother  could  fail  to  shudder  at  sight  of 


HALF  MARRIED,  2QQ 

this  devastation  wrought,  however  innocently,  by 
her  own  son  ? 

She   seated   herself  by  this  woman  to  whom, 
from  the  first,  she  had  felt  drawn. 

"  You  say  you  have  nothing  to  look  forward  to ; 
you  have  much.  You  say  your  suffering  has  done 
nothing  for  you  ?  Much  of  it,  I  am  afraid,  has  been 
through  your  own  fault  or  foolish  imaginings, — so 
perhaps  it  has  not.  You  know  as  we  grow  older, 
we  elderly  people,  we  grow  physically  far-sighted. 
I  think  we  grow  mentally  and  perhaps  spiritually 
far-sighted  also.  We  forget  to  notice  the  triviali- 
ties of  life,  and  are  only  conscious  of  the  grand 
ensemble.  I  cannot  describe  one  of  your  toilettes, 
but  I  know  you,  your  thoughts.  Is  it  nothing 
that  you  have  been  an  inspiration  to  my  poor  boy 
to  live  purely  and  die  bravely  ?  Have  you  not  a 
son  ?  Can  you  imagine  a  woman's  life  a  failure 
who  had  accomplished  that  much  for  him  ?  There 
are  so  few  of  us  who  accomplish  anything,  even 
the  every-day  duties  lying  at  hand,  that  you 
should  be  thankful  for  having  one  piece  of  finished 
work  to  look  back  upon,  and  look  forward  with 
hope  to  accomplishing  more.  If  your  husband 
does  not  care  for  you,  is  it  all  his  fault  ?  Do  you 


300 


HALF  MARRIED. 


ever  try  to  make  him  ?  Does  your  pride  never 
stand  in  the  way?  Some  day  tell  him  the  truth. 
If  he  has  neglected  you,  tell  him  so,  quietly  as  a 
wife  should,  not  like  an  avenging  spirit.  Have 
you  not  learned  that  men  cannot  be  ordered  to 
love  their  wives  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet? 
Before  I  leave  you,  will  you  promise  me  that  you 
will  begin  immediately  to  try  to  live  differently, 
and  when  a  convenient  time  presents  itself  to  tell 
your  husband  the  truth  ?  I  know  you  both  well 
enough  to  know  that  you  will  be  much  happier." 

"  I  certainly  can  be  no  more  miserable." 

"  Then  you  will  promise  me  ?" 

After  some  hesitation  she  said,  slowly, — 

"  Yes,  I  promise  you." 

It  is  wonderfully  encouraging  when  one  really 
makes  up  his  or  her  mind  to  do  the  "  square 
thing"  that  the  way  often  opens,  quite  unexpect- 
edly, to  its  accomplishment. 

From  the  time  of  the  above  conversation  Bessie 
had  tried  to  be  more  gentle,  and  demand  a  little 
more  of  her  husband's  time  and  attention,  and 
indeed  was  succeeding  in  her  honest  endeavor 
towards  keeping  her  promise.  To  be  even  gently 
blamed  by  the  mother  of  the  man  she  had  loved 


HALF  MARRIED.  jOI 

so  much,  so  long,  had  thrown  a  new  and  a  not 
altogether  pleasant  light  on  the  whole  affair. 

One  Sunday  afternoon  as  she  returned  alone 
from  Fielding's  little  chapel  she  heard  voices  in 
their  parlor ;  some  one  was  talking  with  Lennox. 
It  was  not  unprecedented  for  him  to  be  chased 
and  captured  in  his  own  house  out  of  business 
hours  by  anxious  clients,  so  Bessie,  not  recog- 
nizing the  voices,  passed  the  door  without  enter- 
ing. Lennox  called  her  to  come  in,  and  as  she 
entered,  found  a  lady  and  gentleman,  the  lady 
conversing  volubly  with  her  husband. 

She  was  some  years  older  than  Bessie,  fair,  and 
had  those  irregular  features  and  high  cheek-bones 
so  distressing  when  seen  in  blond  women,  where 
we  want  all  lines  to  accord  with  the  fair  com- 
plexion. 

She  was  expensively  dressed  in  one  of  those 
execrable  costumes  where  the  costliness  of  the 
material  is  only  less  conspicuous  than  the  illness 
of  the  fit.  The  husband  sat  a  little  outside  the 
group,  with  that  manner  distressing  and  usual  in 
men  whose  wives  are  trying  to  push  them  up- 
wards into  a  social  sphere  unsuited  to  their  tastes 

and  aspirations. 

26 


202  HALF  MARRIED. 

Bessie  naturally  turned  to  the  distressed,  and 
soon  put  him  at  his  ease  with  her  pleasant  man- 
ner and  easy  chat.  Lennox  had  noticed  the  con- 
trast between  these  two  women.  One  was  so 
much  dressed,  so  embarrassingly  effusive  in  man- 
ner, and  the  other  so  gracious,  so  pleasant,  and 
dressed  so — he  did  not  know  how  to  express  it, 
but  he  could  think  it — so  neat,  so  trim,  so  graceful, 
yet  almost  military  in  its  severity.  He  was  struck 
with  the  absence  of  what  he  called  "  tag  ends." 

The  couple  soon  left,  and  Bessie  never  thought 
of  them  again.  They  were  old  acquaintances  of 
Lennox ;  she  was  polite,  there  was  the  end.  After 
they  left  Lennox  said, — 

"  Bessie,  that  is  such  a  pretty  dress,  I  do  like  it 
so  much." 

"  Well,"  she  laughed,  "  I  am  glad  of  it ;  but 
your  compliments  are  rather  late,  this  is  the 
second  season." 

"  It's  strange  I  never  noticed  it  before ;  the 
jacket,  or  coat,  or  whatever  you  women  call  it, 
fits  you  beautifully." 

"  Yes,  thanks  to  your  tailor !  You  don't  know 
the  blandishments  I  had  to  use  on  that  hard- 
hearted man.  I  implored  his  up-town  cutter  and 


HALF  MARRIED.  303 

his  down-town  foreman.  I  think  only  the  fear  of 
your  displeasure,  if  he  refused,  induced  him  to 
honor  me  with  a  place  among  his  customers, — or 
his  patients, — but  I  succeeded  in  my  vain  en- 
deavor." 

At  lunch  and  through  dinner  Lennox  had  an 
unusually  preoccupied  manner,  and  looked  fairly 
ill.  Bessie  questioned  him,  but  with  no  satisfac- 
tory result.  After  dinner,  when  they  were  quite 
alone,  she  turned  in  her  usual  walk  and,  seeing  his 
pale  face,  said, — 

"  Fred,  for  Heaven's  sake  what  is  the  matter  ? 
You  look  as  if  you  had  seen  a  ghost." 

"  Come  here,  Bessie." 

And,  to  her  utter  astonishment,  he  drew  her  to 
his  knee. 

"  I  have  seen  a  ghost  to-day." 

Bessie  was  alarmed  to  hear  this  matter-of-fact 
man  talk  about  ghosts.  It  suggested  visions  of 
an  overwrought  brain. 

"  I  want  to  tell  you  about  it.  A  great  many 
years  ago, — I  was  going  to  say  before  you  were 
born, — from  the  time  I  was  a  child  I  was  in  love, 
as  children  are,  with  a  little  light-haired  girl.  It 
went  on  till  we  were  quite  grown.  I  went  to  the 


2Q4  HALF  MARRIED. 

army,  and  she  left  Connecticut  with  her  family. 
The  whole  thing  died  a  natural  death.  Well, — I 
am  going  to  tell  you  the  whole  truth, — after  our 
marriage,  when  I  found  you  were  unhappy  and  I 
disappointed,  I  once  more  thought  of  this  girl.  I 
do  not  mean  I  loved  her,  but  way  down  in  my 
heart  I  had  a  sort  of  fair-haired  Idol.  Have  you 
ever  noticed  how  a  flash  of  lightning,  on  a  dark 
night,  will  illuminate  all  things,  small  and  great, 
how  for  the  moment  all  the  world  stands  still? 
How  the  railroad  train  ceases  to  move,  the  spokes 
of  wheels  are  stationary,  the  branches  of  the  trees 
are  motionless  ?  I  feel  as  if  a  flash  of  lightning 
had  illuminated  my  past  life,  and  the  vision  has 
overwhelmed  me.  That  homely,  unrefined,  raw- 
boned  woman"  (Bessie  did  not  like  to  hear  any 
woman,  even  a  rival,  "  called  names")  "  we  saw 
to-day  was  that  girl.  I  cannot  understand  my 
boyish  infatuation.  I  want  to  beg  your  pardon. 
I  want  you  to  let  me  try  once  more  to  begin 
again.  I  am  mortified  at  the  dulness  of  my  per- 
ceptions. Because  you  were  not  educated  in  the 
same  way,  and  in  the  same  surroundings  as  the 
women  who  were  my  companions  in  my  youth,  I 
have  thought  you  cold  and  heartless,  and  caring 


HALF  MARRIED.  ,o- 

only  for  what  I  gave  you,  and  not  for  me.  I  am 
afraid  that  when  I  married  a  princess  to  help  rule 
my  little  kingdom  I  was  base  enough  to  regret 
that  I  had  not  married  a  slave,  or  a  child,  to  be 
ruled.  Can  you  forgive  me  ?" 

Bessie  had  arisen  from  his  knee  and  stood 
before  her  husband,  her  hands  nervously  clutch- 
ing and  twisting  her  handkerchief. 

"  I  can  forgive  you  easily,  easily.  All  that  is 
nothing.  I  have  a  confession  to  make  that  no 
man  can  forgive.  You  will,  perhaps,  never  speak 
to  me  or  let  me  touch  the  children  when  you  hear 
it.  Long,  long  ago  in  my  father's  regiment  there 
was  a  young  officer."  She  spoke  distinctly,  but 
breathed  hard  and  quickly.  "  He  loved  me.  I 
refused  him.  He  loved  me  always.  I  met  him 
but  once  since  I  was  married.  It  was  accidental. 
I  was  very  unhappy,  but — but — I  did  not  allow 
him  to  make  love  to  me.  He  was  very  honorable, 
he  would  not  have  done  so  anyway.  As  you 
became  more  and  more  indifferent  I  thought  more 
of  him.  I  endured  it  until  two  people  discovered 
my  secret." 

"  Two  people,  Bessie  !"  he  said,  astonished. 

"  Fred,  don't  be  angry  at  him,  for  he  is  dead, 
M  26* 


306 


HALF  MARRIED. 


Fred,  dead,  in  the  San  Filippo  Canon  fight  a  year 
ago, — dead,  with  an  arrow  in  his  heart.  The  news 
came  the  night  of  that  great  opera  party,  when 
you  were  called  off  to  Boston ;  don't  you  remem- 
ber? I  begged  you  to  take  me  home  with  you 
before  the  supper.  I  would  have  told  you  every- 
thing that  night  if  you  had  taken  me  home,  but 
you  would  not.  I  read  the  news,  on  the  bulletin- 
board  at  the  Herald  office,  that  night  myself,  and 
at  the  opera  Mr.  Fielding  saw  me  trying  to  keep 
back  the  tears,  and,  connecting  one  thing  with  an- 
other, he  knew  all." 

"  How  could  Fielding  see  and  know  what  I 
could  not?" 

"  Because  he  was  with  me  more,  and  cared  if  I 
felt  distressed." 

"  Bessie,  that  is  a  hard  speech." 

She  continued  more  quietly, — 

"  I  do  not  want  to  be  hard  on  any  one  but  my- 
self. I  could  endure  my  secret  alone,  but  to  think 
that  he  or  any  one  should  share  it  with  me  from 
you  was  too  mortifying.  That  thought  has  driven 
me  almost  to  desperation.  I  wanted  to  tell  you 
and  be  honest,  even  if  you  despised  me.  Then 
another  found  it  out." 


HALF  MARRIED.  ~o~ 

"  Another?" 

"  Yes,  the  boy's  mother,  Mrs.  Waring.  In  an 
unguarded  moment  I  told  her  that  I  had  loved 
her  son,  that  I  had  loved  you,  and  would  have 
continued  to  love  you  if  you  had  not  so  clearly 
shown  me  your  disappointment,  and  that  now  I 
had  nothing  to  live  for,  that  you  were  too  honor- 
able and  strict  ever  to  forgive  me." 

"  What  did  she  say  at  that  ?" 

"  She  said  I  was  to  tell  you  everything, — that  it 
would  be  better,  even  if  things  were  not  made  up 
in  a  minute,  to  have  an  understanding  and  begin 
life  all  over  again,  and  honestly, — but  I  was 
afraid."  And  she  threw  herself  on  the  floor  with 
her  head  in  the  chair. 

Lennox  walked  up  to  her  in  his  quiet,  self-con- 
tained manner,  and,  putting  his  hand  on  her  shoul- 
der, said, — 

"  Bessie,  poor  child,  will  you  do  something  for 
me  to-morrow  ?" 

"  Yes,  Fred,  anything." 

"Well,  it  is  a  simple  thing,  a  little  thing:  will 
you  drive  over  to  Mrs.  Waring's  and  tell  her" — 
as  she  waited  for  the  ending  of  the  sentence 
Bessie's  heart  stood  still—"  that  you  are  going  to 


308 


HALF  MARRIED. 


be  the  very  best  wife  in  the  world,  and  that  I  am 
resigned  to  the  princess.  You,  Bessie,  cannot  ex- 
pect me  to  forget  the  bitterness  of  years  in  a 
moment  It  is  hard  for  a  man  to  be  nothing,  or 
even  second,  where  he  has  the  right  to  be  first  and 
all." 

"  Fred  dear,  you  are  very  generous,  but  as  you 
have  the  right  on  your  side  you  can  afford  to  be. 
I  have  not  wished  or  intended  to  do  wrong.  I 
can  only  confess  to  being  disappointed  and  un- 
reasonable and  being  thrown  back  on  myself.  I 
did  not  expect  or  wish  to  find  you  a  man  whom  I 
could  make  my  obedient  slave,  neither  did  I 
expect  you  to  rule  me." 

She  hesitated  for  words  and  self-control. 

"  I  had  only  hoped  to  be  very  necessary  to  you, 
as  I  had  been  to  but  two  people  in  the  world. 
You  would  not  let  me,  and  I  was  too  proud  and 
obstinate  to  try  very  long.  As  I  grew  older  I 
wanted  some  one,  strong  and  good,  to  lean  upon, 
and  yet " 

"And  yet?" 

"  Well,  when  I  found  an  oak  I  think  that  I  was 
angry  because  the  bark  was  a  little  rough,  and  it 
bore  acorns  instead  of  violets." 


HALF  MARRIED. 

After  this  she  broke  down  again,  and  it  was 
some  moments  before  she  could  control  her  agita- 
tion. 

As  Lennox  looked  at  her  he  thought  he  loved 
her  more  than  he  ever  had,  more  than  he  had 
when  he  was  so  quickly  and  lightly  captivated 
under  the  old  elms  at  Carrington.  He  put  his 
arm  around  her  and  said,  gently, — 

"  I  am  satisfied  that  it  will  all  come  out  right,  but 
we  must  have  a  little  patience.  We  are  through 
with  ghosts  and  explanations  forever.  Now  go 
up-stairs  and  rest.  To-morrow  the  world  will 
look  brighter,  brighter  perhaps  to  us  both,  than  it 
has  for  a  long  time." 

While  Bessie  rested  with  mind  and  conscience 
relieved,  Lennox  pondered  long  and  deeply,  how 
it  was  possible  for  two  intelligent  beings  to  work 
so  long  and  so  persistently  at  cross-purposes 
when  a  few  words  would  have  made  all  things 
clear. 

Not  long  after  this  reconciliation  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lennox  were  bidden  to  Tom  Campbell's  wedding. 
He  and  Miss  Huston  were  to  be  married  in  Troy. 
Mr.  Arthur,  the  Worthingtons,  his  own  parents, 
and  many  old  friends  were  to  be  there  to  give  him 


3io 


HALF  MARRIED. 


a  good  "  send-off,"  and  of  course  "  Miss  Bessie" 
must  come. 

Bessie  was  learning  her  lesson,  and  insisted  that 
her  husband  should  go  with  her.  He,  when  he 
found  it  really  was  her  pleasure,  consented  at  once. 
After  much  puzzling  she  decided  upon  a  wedding- 
gift.  A  very  pretty  model  in  silver  of  a  birch- 
bark  canoe.  It  held  a  little  silver  paddle,  the 
handle  of  which  terminated  in  a  sharp  point.  On 
the  bow  of  this  little  craft  was  a  plain  space  left 
for  the  initials  of  the  bride,  but  instead  was  en- 
graved "The  Mist,"  and  when  the  gift  was  re- 
ceived by  the  pretty  young  bride  it  held  a  fine 
cargo  of  Spanish  olives. 

The  reunion  at  the  wedding  was  a  pleasant  one, 
though  all  had  in  mind  that  one  who  was  missing  to 
complete  the  old  party,  and  at  the  breakfast  when 
"  absent  friends"  were  toasted  (and  how  young  we 
have  all  begun  to  drink  to  that  sad  toast !),  Mrs. 
Worthington  and  Bessie  looked  persistently  in 
their  plates  till  they  had  a  chance,  unobserved,  to 
wipe  their  eyes. 

Arthur  was  happy  at  the  very  evident  improve- 
ment in  his  friend's  life,  and  Tom  was  radiant  over 
his  own  prosperity. 


HALF  MARRIED.  3 1 1 

After  it  was  all  over  Lennox  said  to  Bessie, 
meditatingly, — 

"  How  happy  young  Campbell  seems  to  be !" 

"Yes,"  answered  Bessie,  "he  should  be.  His 
wife  has  no  arriere  pensee.  It  is  a  matter  of  first 
love  on  both  sides." 

"  I  do  not  see  that  an  arriere  pensee  is  so  very 
bad  in  a  woman  after  all." 

"  Do  you  really  mean  that,  Fred  ?" 

"  I  really  do." 

"  I  am  very  happy  then,  and  I  think  I  could 
forgive  a  man  his  first  love,  even  if  she  were 
young  and  beautiful,  if " 

"  If  what  ?" 

"  If  he  made  up  by  being  very  devoted  to  me 
forever  afterwards,  and  allowing  me  to  be  very 
devoted  to  him." 

"  Bessie,  this  being  in  love  is  very  mysterious. 
No  one  knows  where  or  what  it  will  lead  to." 

"  Yes.  '  Ce  que  F  amour  commence,  ne  pent  etre 
achev'e  que  par  Dieu  /'  " 

THE   END. 


-^itj-^ 
»i  ^r'j/^L' 


A     000092135 


' 


